Automated currency canister reloading machine with ability to update canister memory

ABSTRACT

An automated canister reloading machine is able to reload a currency canister removed from an ATM. The reloading machine includes a supply of currency notes. The reloading machine can transfer currency notes from the supply into a storage area of the canister. The canister includes a memory that can store data representative of information concerning the canister, such as data representative of the type and number of currency notes held in the canister. The reloading machine is able to update the canister memory.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] This invention relates to automated banking machines.Specifically this invention relates to an automated banking machine thatenables currency bills, notes or other documents deposited by onecustomer to be identified and stored in the machine, and laterselectively dispensed to another customer.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Automated banking machines are known in the prior art A populartype of automated banking machine is an automated teller machine (ATM).Other types of automated banking machines are used to count and dispensecash. These machines are often used by tellers or customer servicerepresentatives in banning and other transaction environments.

[0003] ATM machines commonly in use accept deposits from customers andprocess the deposits using devices which are separate from the deviceswhich dispense currency and other items to customers. Most common ATMdepositories require customers to place their deposits in an envelope.The envelope is accepted into the machine for storage. Although thecustomer is indicates the value of the contents of the envelope, thecustomer's account is often not credited for the amount of deposit untilthe envelope is removed from the ATM by bank personnel and the contentsverified.

[0004] Other ATM machines have the capability of receiving checks andother negotiable instruments. Such machines may include a device such asis shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,422,467. Devices of this type can be used tocancel and produce electronic images of checks which are deposited intoan ATM machine. The cancelled checks are stored in the machine for laterremoval by bank personnel.

[0005] Currency notes, travelers checks and other documents and sheetmaterials that are commonly dispensed by ATMs, are generally housed inthe machine in removable canisters. Sheets are dispensed from thecanisters and delivered by the machine to customers. Periodically thesecanisters must be removed from the machine and the supply of sheetstherein replenished. This is a labor intensive activity. To replace thecanisters the secure portion of the ATM must be opened. The canisters inthe machine must be removed and new canisters, which include a newsupply of sheets, placed in the machine. Alternatively the canisters inthe machine may be opened, money or other sheets added, and thenreplaced. After the canisters are replaced the secure portion of themachine must be closed.

[0006] The replacement or resupply of canisters often requirestransporting filled canisters to the machine and returning partiallydepleted canisters to a remote location. While efforts have been made inthe design of canisters to minimize opportunities for pilferage, thereis always some risk Therefore such activities are normally carried outby armed couriers. More than one person is often assigned to any taskwhere there is access to the cash or other valuables in the machine.Because numerous individuals may be involved in loading replacementcanisters, transporting replacement canisters to ATM machines, replacingthe canisters, returning the removed canisters and auditing the contentsof returned canisters, it is often difficult to identify the cause ofany losses.

[0007] The need to periodically replace currency canisters is aninconvenience because the ATM must be shut down. Customers are not ableto use the ATM while the supply of currency is being replenished, andlost opportunities to conduct transactions and customer dissatisfactionmay result Customers will also be disappointed if replenishmentoperations are not performed frequently enough and the machine runs outof currency or other documents.

[0008] Other types of automated banking machines, such as those thatdispense cash to customer service representatives, have the samedrawbacks as ATM machines. Periodic replenishment of the currency orother valuable documents that are dispensed by the machine must be doneto keep the machine in operation. While such machines speed the cashdispensing service to the customer, there is a significant costassociated with segregating, preparing and transporting the currencybefore it is placed within the machine.

[0009] Other banking machines have been developed for identifying andcounting currency. Such machines may be used in banking and vendingenvironments. Machines which count currency generally require that thecurrency be pre-oriented a particular way to obtain properidentification. This is time consuming for the person operating themachine. Many currency counting machines also tend to reject valid notesdue to natural deterioration which occurs in U.S. currency. The speedassociated with such currency counting and accepting machines is alsoless than desirable in many cases.

[0010] Automated banking machines which are capable of receivingcurrency, identifying the particular type and denomination of currency,storing the currency and later dispensing it to a customer have beenused in countries outside the United States. Such recycling machines arefeasible in countries such as Japan where currency notes include specialfeatures which facilitate their identification by machines. However,such recycling machines have not generally been feasible with U.S.currency notes which generally do not include special features thatfacilitate identification by machine. U.S. currency notes also aresubject to a wide range of conditions such as wear, soiling andbleaching which do not render a note unfit for use, but which render itvery difficult for a machine to properly identify.

[0011] The currency recycling type banking machines that have beendeveloped also generally suffer from slow operating speeds. This isparticularly true when the machines are used to process a large numberof notes. Often such machines require that the notes be oriented in aparticular way and considerable time is associated with the rejection ofnotes due to improper orientation. The handling of the sheets tofacilitate identification and storage is also a time consuming process.Once a sheet has been initially identified as proper and stored in themachine, there is generally no check to be sure that the originaldetermination of the type and character of the note was correct As aresult, a customer may receive a misidentified note. This can reducecustomer satisfaction

[0012] In the operation of current automated banking machines it is notuncommon for operators to add cash to currency canisters withoutcounting the notes remaining in the canister. This is often done to savetime particularly where the operator of the machine does not wish totransport the canisters to a remote location for reloading. ATMs may runfor an extended period of time without an actual count of the number ofnotes in a canister. Often when an accounting is actually takendiscrepancies are noted between the number of notes remaining in thecanister and the number that would be expected to be present based onthe amount of currency that the machine has dispensed. In thesesituations it is often difficult to determine if the cause of theproblem is pilferage, a miscalculation of the amount inserted into thecanister during one of the reloading procedures or errors in dispensingby the machine. Generally in these situations it is not possible todetermine the cause of the discrepancy.

[0013] Currency canisters also may be configured to dispense differenttypes of documents. Some types of documents may require for examplevariations in the biasing force which move the documents outward toengage the picker mechanism. Currently if a canister has been modifiedto accommodate a particular type of document the information must bevisibly marked on the canister so that it is not used for otherdocuments.

[0014] The document dispensing canisters also are required to undergoperiodic maintenance. Such maintenance may involve replacing certainparts on the canister that tend to wear out as documents are picked.Generally maintenance is recommended after a certain number of cycles.However when canisters are moved between various machines there is noway of knowing exactly how many cycles a particular canister hasexperienced since preventive maintenance has been performed. As a resultpreventive maintenance may be conducted more frequently than necessaryor may not be performed in a timely fashion. In either event unnecessarycosts may result.

[0015] Canisters are also occasionally modified so as to improve theirperformance. Such modifications which are often referred to as upgradesmay involve changing components which are not readily visible to aperson who handles the canister. Currently the only way to indicate thata canister has been upgraded to an improved level is to physically markthe canister in a manner which is readily visible to an individualhandling it. Canister upgrades may also result in changes in performanceor operation of the canister. As a result the properties of an ATMmachine in which a canister is installed may need to be modified toaccommodate canister upgrades. If a population of canisters includesthose with and without the upgrades complications may arise becausecertain ATM machines may not be suitable for accepting upgradedcanisters while others may not be able to use canisters which have notbeen upgraded.

[0016] Thus there exists a need for a currency recycling automatedbanking machine that is more reliable, operates more quickly, and whichcan be used with U.S. and other currencies which have a wide range ofproperties. There further exists a need for an automated banking machineand system which includes self-auditing capabilities and which can beused to indicate when there is a discrepancy between an amount which isindicated as having been placed in a canister at a remote location andthe amount which arrives at the machine. There further exists a need foran automated banking machine in which the canisters indicate to themachine the current configuration level of the canisters and which trackthe use of the canisters to provide an indication of when preventativemaintenance is to be performed.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

[0017] It is an object of the present invention to provide a currencyrecycling automated banking machine.

[0018] It is a further object of the present invention to provide acurrency recycling automated banking machine that is reliable and thatoperates more rapidly.

[0019] It is a further object of the present invention to provide acurrency recycling automated banking machine that works with currencynotes and other documents that have a wide variety of properties.

[0020] It is a further object of the present invention to provide acurrency recycling automated banking machine that is capable ofunstacking and separating documents input in a stacks

[0021] It is a further object of the present invention to provide anautomated banking machine that orients documents relative to a sheetpath while moving such documents at a high rate of speed

[0022] It is a further object of the present invention to provide acurrency recycling automated banking machine that can transport aplurality of documents in a sheet path concurrently and at a high rateof speed.

[0023] It is a further object of the present invention to provide acurrency recycling automated banking machine that identifies documentsand which returns unidentifiable documents to a customer.

[0024] It is a further object of the present invention to provide acurrency recycling automated banking machine that enables a customer todeposit documents into the banking machine, and after the documents havebeen identified, to elect whether to deposit the documents or to havethem returned.

[0025] It is a further object of the present invention to provide acurrency recycling automated banking machine that can identify depositeddocuments regardless of orientation

[0026] It is a further object of the present invention to provide acurrency recycling automated banking machine that enables selectivelystoring deposited documents in storage areas in the machine.

[0027] It is a further object of the present invention to provide acurrency recycling automated banking machine that enables selectivelystoring deposited documents in removable canisters.

[0028] It is a further object of the present invention to provide acurrency recycling automated banking machine that enables recovery ofdocuments stored in storage areas and dispensing the documents tocustomers.

[0029] It is a further object of the present invention to provide anautomated banking machine in which documents may concurrently betransported, oriented, stored in storage areas and dispensed from otherstorage areas within the machine.

[0030] It is a further object of the present invention to provide anautomated banking machine which has self-auditing capabilities.

[0031] It is a further object of the present invention to provide anautomated banking machine which includes removable currency canisterswhich have a programmable memory which indicates the type and number ofdocuments stored in storage areas in the canister.

[0032] It is a further object of the present invention to provide anautomated banking machine system which determines if the number ofdocuments stored in a currency canister loaded into the machinecorresponds to the number of documents that were loaded into thecanister at a remote location.

[0033] It is a further object of the present invention to provide anautomated banking machine which includes currency canisters whichindicate a current configuration of components of the currencycanisters.

[0034] It is a further object of the present invention to provide anautomated banning machine which includes currency canisters which trackthe level of use that the canisters have received.

[0035] It is a further object of the present invention to provide asystem which identifies discrepancies between the amount of currencyloaded into a canister and the amount of currency in the canister whenit arrives at an automated banking machine.

[0036] Further objects of the present invention will be made apparent inthe following Best Modes for Carrying Out the Invention and the appendedclaims.

[0037] The foregoing objects are accomplished in a preferred embodimentof the present invention by a currency recycling automated bankingmachine. The machine includes an input/output area in which a customermay insert documents that are to be deposited and from which a customerwithdrawing documents may receive documents.

[0038] A customer deposits documents in a stack. The documents are movedfrom the input/output area into a central transport In an unstack areadocuments are removed from the stack one by one and separated into astream of single separate documents. The documents move along a documentpath in the central transport. The documents moving in the centraltransport are each deskewed to properly orient them relative to thedirection of travel along the document path. The documents are furthermoved to align them into a proper centered relation in the documentpath.

[0039] Each document is then moved past a document type identifierdevice which operates to identify the type and/or denomination of eachdocument. Identifiable documents are directed into an escrow area whileunidentifiable documents are directed into a reject area of theinput/output area of the machine.

[0040] A customer is informed of any unidentifiable documents throughinput and output devices on the machine. Any unidentifiable documentsmay then be delivered to the customer from the reject areaAlternatively, depending on the programming of the machine such rejecteddocuments may be stored in the machine for later analysis.

[0041] Properly identified documents are initially held in the escrowarea. The output devices on the machine indicate to the customer thetype and/or value of the identifiable documents. The customer preferablyis enabled to select whether to have such documents returned or todeposit such documents. If the customer elects to have the documentsreturned, the documents are passed out of the input/output area and thecustomer's account is not credited for the value of the documents.

[0042] If the customer elects to deposit the documents the documents areagain moved through the central transport in a stream of rapidly movingseparated documents. The documents are again identified by theidentification device. However, rather than being routed to the rejectand escrow areas, the identified documents are now preferably routed bythe control system of the machine to selected storage locations. Thestorage locations are locations in which documents of the particulartypes are stored in the machine. The storage areas in the machine of thepreferred embodiment are areas in a plurality of removable canister. Thecustomer's account is then credited for the value of the depositeddocuments.

[0043] The same customer who deposited documents or a subsequentcustomer wishing to make a withdrawal from the machine may receivedocuments that have been previously stored in the storage areas.Document dispensing mechanisms associated with the storage areasselectively remove documents from the storage areas and route them tothe central transport of the machine. As the documents move through thecentral transport they pass the identification device. The type anddenomination of each document being dispensed is verified. This assuresthat the initial identification of the documents made when they weredeposited in the machine is correct. This third verification assuresthat a customer withdrawing documents from the machine is not given animproper document. The documents are removed from the storage areasconcurrently so as to facilitate rapid operation of the machine and arecontrolled in movement through the remote transport segments and thecentral transport to assure that they move as a stream of separateddocuments as they pass the identification device.

[0044] The identified documents to be dispensed to the customer aremoved by the central transport to an escrow area From the escrow areathey are presented to the customer. The customer's account is thencharged or debited for the documents that have been withdrawn

[0045] The document canisters are removable from the machine byauthorized personnel. When the canisters are removed from the machinethey may be loaded with currency notes or other documents. The canistersmay also undergo upgrades or preventative maintenance when removed fromthe machine. Each canister has thereon a programmable memory. The memoryis programmed when the canister is outside the machine with informationconcerning the number and type of documents which are stored in each ofits respective storage areas. The memory also includes information onthe particular individual or entities responsible for loading documentsin the storage areas. The information is preferably input to the memoryonboard the canister using an input device and a fixture whichoperatively connects the input device and the canister.

[0046] The programmable memory onboard the canister may also receiveinformation from the input device concerning upgrades made to thecanister in the various storage areas thereof. The memory may also beprovided with information as to when preventative maintenance isperformed on various articles. Likewise if a storage area is configuredfor handling a document that has different properties from otherdocuments this information may similarly be loaded into the onboardmemory.

[0047] When the canister is placed inside the machine the memory in thecanister is in operative connection with the control system of themachine. The machine preferably operates in response to receiving thecanister to remove the documents in each of the storage areas and passthem through the central transport to the escrow area. Through thisprocess the type and denomination of each document stored in the storagearea is determined. The control system then compares this information tothe information stored in the memory onboard the canister. If theinformation stored in the canister agrees with the informationdetermined by the terminal the documents are returned to the storagelocation (or a different location in the machine) the control systemoperates to then move on to check the documents stored in the nextstorage location. This process proceeds until the contents of each newlyinserted canister is checked.

[0048] If a discrepancy is noted between the onboard canister memory andwhat the terminal determines is located in a storage area a discrepancysignal is given by the ATM. This discrepancy signal is preferablytransmitted to a remote location and informs the operator of the systemthat a discrepancy has occurred. In the preferred embodiment theinformation stored in the canister memory is often sufficient todetermine which individuals loaded and handled the canister having thediscrepancy. This enables any discrepancies to be accounted forimmediately.

[0049] The information stored in the canister memory is also used by thecontrol system to adjust the operation of the terminal to conform to thestatus information provided. For example if a particular storage area ina canister has been upgraded or otherwise changed in a manner thatrequires a different mode of operation the control system modifies theoperation of the machine accordingly when dealing with that storagearea.

[0050] As the automated banking machine operates the control system itcommunicates with the memory onboard the canister to update theinformation therein. For example as documents are added or removed fromstorage locations information representative thereof is stored in thememory. As the canister undergoes operating cycles data representativeof the number of cycles which the various components have experienced isalso recorded in the memory for purposes of calculating whenpreventative maintenance is due. These features enable the automatedbanking machine to operate more reliably and to minimize the risk ofimproper operation or loss of currency or other documents.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0051]FIG. 1 is a schematic cross sectional view of currency recyclingautomated banking machine of a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

[0052]FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the functions performed by themachine shown in FIG. 1.

[0053]FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the components of the centraltransport and the input/output area of the machine.

[0054]FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1 schematically representinginput of a stack of documents by a customer.

[0055]FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the input/output area shownreceiving a stack of documents from a customer.

[0056]FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing the document stackafter it has been placed inside the machine.

[0057]FIG. 7 is a schematic view similar to FIG. 1 showing an inserteddocument stack being moved from the input/output area of the machine tothe document unstack area of the machine.

[0058]FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing the stack moving from theinput/output area to the unstack area.

[0059]FIG. 9 is a schematic view of the unstack area of the machineprior to arrival of the stack.

[0060]FIG. 10 is a schematic view of the unstack area showing a stack ofdocuments being transported into the unstack area.

[0061]FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 10 showing the stack ofdocuments moving into position for unstacking.

[0062]FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 11 with the documents inposition for unstacking in the unstack area.

[0063]FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing documents passing fromthe unstack area through the central transport to the reject and escrowareas of the machine.

[0064]FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 12 showing a document beingunstacked in the unstack area.

[0065]FIG. 15 is a view similar to FIG. 14 showing a document beingremoved from the stack and moving past the sensors for sensing doublesand pre-centering.

[0066]FIG. 16 is a schematic view showing a double note being retractedinto the stack

[0067]FIG. 17 is a cross sectional view of a mechanism used forunstacking notes in the unstack area.

[0068]FIG. 18 is a schematic view of a shuttle half which is part of adeskewing mechanism, the shuttle half being shown in a note passingposition.

[0069]FIG. 19 is a view similar to FIG. 18 showing the shuttle half in anote stopping position.

[0070]FIG. 20 is a top plan view of a shuttle used for deskewing andcentering documents in the central transport.

[0071]FIG. 21 is a schematic view of a skewed note.

[0072]FIG. 22 is a schematic view similar to FIG. 21 showing the notebeing deskewed by the operation of the shuttle.

[0073]FIG. 23 is a view similar to FIG. 22 showing the note alignedtransversely to the direction of travel in the central transport but inan off center condition.

[0074]FIG. 24 is a schematic view of the note shown in FIG. 23 havingbeen moved by the shuttle to a centered position in the centraltransport.

[0075]FIG. 25 is a schematic view showing the shuttle moving a documenttransversely to the direction of travel in the central transport.

[0076]FIG. 26 is a schematic view of the pre-centering and centeringcircuitry used in connection with a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

[0077]FIG. 27 is a schematic view of the input/output area of themachine as documents are delivered from the central transport.

[0078]FIG. 28 is a schematic view similar to FIG. 1 showingunidentifiable documents being delivered out of the machine to acustomer.

[0079]FIG. 29 is a schematic view of the input/output area showingunidentifiable documents being moved out of the machine.

[0080]FIG. 30 is a schematic view similar to FIG. 29 showingunidentifiable documents being routed into the machine for storage.

[0081]FIG. 31 is a schematic view similar to FIG. 1 showing documentsheld in escrow being routed into the central transport for storage inthe machine.

[0082]FIG. 32 is a schematic view of the input/output area moving thedocuments held in the escrow area.

[0083]FIG. 33 is a schematic view showing a portion of the drivemechanism for the drive belts in the input/output area.

[0084]FIG. 34 is an isometric schematic view of the input/output areadrive mechanism.

[0085]FIG. 35 is a schematic view similar to FIG. 1 showing documentsthat have been previously held in the escrow area being unstacked andpassed through the central transport and into the machine for storage instorage areas of document storage canisters.

[0086]FIG. 36 is a schematic view of a belt and carriage rollarrangement used for transporting documents in the central transport ofthe machine.

[0087]FIG. 37 is a side view of a guide used in connection with thecarriage transport rolls.

[0088]FIG. 38 is a cross sectional side view of the carriage rolls,document belts and guides shown in supporting connection with adocument.

[0089]FIG. 39 is a side view of a gate mechanism used for routingdocuments moving in remote transport segments, with the gate mechanismshown in a position enabling a document to pass directly therethrough.

[0090]FIG. 40 is a side view of the gate mechanism shown in FIG. 39 in acondition passing a document from the remote transport segment to acanister transport.

[0091]FIG. 41 is a view similar to FIG. 39 with the gate mechanism shownpassing a document from a canister transport into the remote transportsegment.

[0092]FIG. 42 is a view of the gate mechanism shown in FIG. 39 in acondition that enables a document to pass from the canister transportinto the remote transport segment, with the document moving in anopposed direction from that shown in FIG. 41.

[0093]FIG. 43 is a view of the gate mechanism shown in FIG. 39 with adocument passing from the remote transport segment into the canistertransport with the document moving in an opposed direction from thatshown in FIG. 40.

[0094]FIG. 44 is a schematic view of an arrangement of belts and pulleysadjacent to the gate mechanism shown in FIG. 39.

[0095]FIG. 45 is a schematic view of a sheet transport exemplifying theprinciples used for moving documents in the remote transport segmentsand in the canister transport.

[0096]FIG. 46 is a cross sectional schematic view showing a documentmoving in a transport of the type shown in FIG. 45.

[0097]FIG. 47 is a top plan view of a lid covering a storage area withina recycling currency canister.

[0098]FIG. 48 is a side cross sectional view of a storage area in acurrency canister shown with a sheet moving towards the storage area.

[0099]FIG. 49 is a view similar to FIG. 48 showing the sheet partiallyaccepted into the storage area.

[0100]FIG. 50 is a front plan view of the feed wheels, take away wheelsand thumper wheels adjacent to the storage area, with the sheet shownmoving into the storage area as shown in FIG. 49.

[0101]FIG. 51 is a view similar to FIG. 49 with the sheet moved into thestorage area but positioned above the stack of documents held therein.

[0102]FIG. 52 is a view similar to FIG. 50 with the accepted sheetintegrated into the stack.

[0103]FIG. 53 is a view similar to FIG. 52 with the newly accepted sheetheld as part of the stack by fingers positioned adjacent to the storagearea.

[0104]FIG. 54 is a schematic view similar to FIG. 1 showing the flow ofsheets from a storage area to an escrow area in response to a documentdispense request input by a user.

[0105]FIG. 55 is a cross sectional view of a storage area including astack of sheets therein from which one sheet is to be removed as part ofa dispensing operation.

[0106]FIG. 56 is a view similar to FIG. 55 in which the fingers holdingthe stack of sheets in the storage area have been retracted to enablethe sheets to engage the inner surface of the bin door.

[0107]FIG. 57 is a view similar to FIG. 56 in which the bin door israised with the feed wheels and thumper wheels shown beginning to moveso as to pick a sheet from the stack.

[0108]FIG. 58 is a view similar to FIG. 57 showing the feed and thumperwheels moved to a position in which a top sheet in the stack is beingremoved therefrom.

[0109]FIG. 59 is a front view of the feed wheels, thumper wheels,stripper wheel and take away wheels in engagement with a sheet as it isbeing removed from the stack in the manner shown in FIG. 58.

[0110]FIG. 60 is a view similar to FIG. 58 with the sheet shown havingbeen removed from the storage area and being sensed by a doublesdetector.

[0111]FIG. 61 is a top plan view of the bin door overlying a storagearea showing a sheet having been removed therefrom and moving towards agate mechanism adjacent to the remote transport.

[0112]FIG. 62 is a schematic view similar to FIG. 1 showing a stack ofsheets that have been dispensed from storage locations being deliveredto a user of the machine.

[0113]FIG. 63 is a schematic view of the architecture of the controlsystem of a preferred embodiment of the machine.

[0114]FIGS. 64-68 are a simplified flow chart showing an exemplarytransaction flow for a deposit transaction conducted at a currencyrecycling automated banking machine of the present invention.

[0115]FIGS. 69 and 70 are a simplified flow chart showing thetransaction flow of a withdrawal transaction conducted at the machine.

[0116]FIG. 71 is a schematic view of a document canister being movedinto position in the machine.

[0117]FIG. 72 is a top schematic view of a connector which electricallyconnects the document canister and the permanent electrical circuitry ofthe banking machine.

[0118]FIG. 73 is a schematic view of a currency canister removed fromthe automated banning machine and in operative connection with a devicefor programing and reading the information in the memory of thecanister.

[0119]FIG. 74 is a schematic view of a network in which automatedbanking machines of the present invention are operated.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT INVENTION

[0120] Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 1 there isshown therein a currency recycling automated banking machine of thepresent invention generally indicated 10. The machine includes a housing12. Housing 12 includes a customer interface area generally indicated14. Interface area 14 includes components used for communicating with auser of the machine. These components may include a display 16 whichserves as an output device. The interface area may also include a keypad18 and/or a card reader 20 which serve as manually actable input devicesthrough which a user may input information or instructions into themachine. It should be understood that these devices are exemplary andother input and output devices such as a touch screen, display, audiospeakers, iris scan devices, fingerprint reading devices, infraredtransmitters and receivers and other devices which are capable ofreceiving or providing information may be used.

[0121] The machine also includes other devices which are indicatedschematically. Such devices may include a receipt printer 22 whichprovides receipts to customers concerning activities related to theirtransactions. Other devices indicated schematically include a journalprinter 24 for making a paper record of transactions. A passbook printer26 indicated schematically may also be included within the housing ofthe machine. A check imaging device 28 may also be included for purposesof producing electronic images of checks deposited into the machine aswell as for cancelling such checks. Such a check imaging device may beof the type shown in U.S. Pat. No 5,422,467 or other similar mechanism.

[0122] Devices 22,24,26 and 28 are exemplary and other devices may alsobe included in the machine such as video cameras for connecting to aremote location, an envelope deposit accepting mechanism, ticketprinting devices, devices for printing statements and other devices. Itshould further be understood that while the embodiment described hereinis in the form of an automated teller machine (ATM the present inventionmay be used in connection with other types of automated bankingmachines.

[0123] The machine 10 includes a control system generally indicated 30.The control system is in operative connection with the components of themachine and controls the operation thereof in accordance with programmedinstructions. Control system 30 also provides communications with othercomputers concerning transactions conducted at the machine. Suchcommunications may be provided by any suitable means, such as throughtelephone lines, wireless radio link or through a connection through aproprietary transaction network.

[0124] The preferred embodiment of the invention has the capability ofrecycling currency or other sheets or documents representative of valuereceived from a customer. For purposes of this description except whereindicated, the words documents, sheets, notes and currency are usedinterchangeably to refer to the sheet materials processed by theinvention. The process of recycling involves receiving the documents inbulk from a customer, identifying the type of documents deposited andstoring the documents in appropriate locations within the machine. Thestored documents may then be selectively retrieved and provided tocustomers who wish to withdraw funds from the machine.

[0125] The preferred embodiment of the invention includes the functionalcomponents schematically indicated in FIG. 2. These functionalcomponents include an input/output function which receives documentsfrom and delivers documents to users of the machine. An unstack function34 receives documents from the input/output function 32. The unstackfunction serves to separate the documents from the stack and deliverthem into a sheet path in separate, spaced relation.

[0126] The functional components of the machine further include a deskewfunction 36. As later discussed in detail, the deskew function operatesto orient the documents so that they are properly transversely alignedwith a sheet path. An alignment function 38 further orients the movingdocuments by centering them with regard to the sheet path After thedocuments have been aligned they are passed to an identify function 40.The identify function operates to determine the type of document passingthrough the sheet path In the preferred embodiment the identify functionincludes determining the type and denomination of a currency bill orother document Also the identify function determines if a documentappears suspect or is simply not identifiable.

[0127] The identify function is linked to the input/output function sothat customers may have any suspect documents or identifiable documentsreturned to them, rather than be deposited in the machine. The identifyfunction is also linked to document store and recover functions 42, 44,46 and 48. The store and recover functions operate to store documents inselected locations, and to recover those documents for purposes ofdispensing the documents to a customer.

[0128] Referring again to FIG. 1 the apparatus which performs thepreviously described functions is shown schematically. The input/outputfunction is performed in an input/output area generally indicated 50.The input/output area is adjacent to an opening 52 in the housing of themachine. Access through opening 52 is controlled by a movable gate 54which is shown in the closed position in FIG. 1.

[0129] Input/output area 50 includes four belt type transports. Thesebelt type transports are devices suitable for moving a stack of sheets,and preferably each comprise a plurality of belts such as is shown inU.S. Pat. No. 5,507,481. First belts 56 and second belts 58 bound adelivery/reject area 60 which extends vertically between the belts. Aslater explained, belts 56 and 58 are movable vertically relative to oneanother and move in coordinated relation to transport a stack of sheetswhich are positioned therebetween.

[0130] Input/output area 50 also includes third belts 62 and fourthbelts 64. Third belts 62 and fourth belts 64 vertically bound an escrowarea generally indicated 66. Belts 62 and 64 are similar to belts 56 and58 and are capable of moving a stack of documents therebetween. Thebelts in the input/output area, as well as gate 54, are driven byappropriate motors schematically indicated 68 which are operated by thecontrol system 30. The input/output area can be operated in variousmodes, examples of which will be discussed hereafter. FIG. 3 shows theinput/output area 50 in greater detail.

[0131] The input/output area communicates with a central transportgenerally indicated 70. Central transport 70 includes an unstack areagenerally indicated 72. The unstack area includes a tray 74 which issuitable for moving a stack of documents thereon. Unstack area 72further includes transport belts 76 and pick belts 78. As laterexplained in detail, the unstack area operates to separate documents anddeliver them in spaced relation into the document path of the centraltransport.

[0132] The deskew operation also includes doubles sensors 80 for use indetecting instances of double documents which have been removed from astack in the unstack area. These documents can be separated in a mannerlater discussed. Pre-centering sensors are also provided in associationwith the unstack operation, which sensors operate to assure that thedeskew and alignment operations can be performed properly.

[0133] From the unstack area sheets are transported to a deskew andcentering device 84. Deskew and centering device 84 performs thefunctions of aligning sheets transversely to a sheet path. It alsoperforms the function of moving the sheets so that they are centeredrelative to the sheet path through the central transport.

[0134] From the deskew and centering device, documents change directionby being turned on carriage rolls 86 and are moved past anidentification device 88. Identification device 88 is preferably of thetype shown in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/749,260 filed Nov. 15,1996 which is owned by the Assignee of the present invention, and thedisclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. In alternativeembodiments, other types of identification devices may be used. Theidentification devices preferably identify the type and character ofpassing note. The identification device also preferably distinguishesgenuine documents such as genuine currency bills from unidentifiable orsuspect documents.

[0135] From the identification device, documents are moved selectivelyin response to the position of divert gates schematically indicated 90.The divert gates operate under the control of the control system todirect documents either to the delivery/reject area 60, the escrow area66 or into the document storage and recovery areas of the machine.

[0136] The document storage and recovery areas include recyclingcanisters 92, 94, 96 and 98, which are later described in detail. Therecycling canisters are preferably removable from the machine byauthorized personnel. Each of the recycling canisters shown include fourstorage areas therein. These are represented by storage areas 100, 102,104 and 106 in canister 94. The storage areas provide locations forstoring documents that have satisfactorily passed through the centraltransport Documents are preferably stored in the storage areas withdocuments of the same type. Documents stored in the storage areas canlater be removed therefrom one at a time and delivered to othercustomers.

[0137] Documents are moved to the canisters through remote transportsegments generally indicated 108, 110, 112 and 114. The remote transportsegments are preferably arranged in aligned relation such that documentsmay be passed between the transport segments. Each remote transportsegment has a media gate mechanism associated therewith. The media gatesgenerally indicated 116, 118, 120 and 122 operate in a manner laterexplained to selectively direct documents from the remote documentsegments into connection with adjacent canister delivery transportsindicated 124, 126, 128 and 130. The canister transports operate in amanner later explained, to move documents to and from the storage areasin the canisters.

[0138] It should be appreciated that the various components whichcomprise the gates, transports and storage areas have associated motorsand sensors, all of which are in operative connection with the controlsystem 30 for purposes of sensing and controlling the movement ofdocuments therethrough.

[0139] It should also be noted that in the preferred embodiment of theinvention a dump area generally indicated 132 is provided within thehousing of the machine at the bottom of the remote transport segments.Dump area 132 functions as a receptacle for documents that aredetermined not to be suitable for handling or which are otherwise deemednot suitable for later recovery and dispensing to a customer. In thepreferred embodiment dump area 132 comprises a tray which can be movedoutward on the housing of the machine to facilitate cleaning and removalof documents when the interior of the machine is accessed.

[0140] The operation of the currency recycling automated banking machinewill now be explained through an example of the operative steps andfunctions carried out in connection with a deposit transaction by acustomer. It should be understood that this is only an example of onemanner in which the machine may be operated. Other methods of operationand functions may be achieved based on the programming of the machine.

[0141] The transaction flow for the deposit transaction is shown inFIGS. 64-68. A customer approaching the machine 10 operates thecomponents in the customer interface area 14 to enable operation of themachine. This may include for example insertion of a credit or debitcard and the input of a personal identification number (PIN). Of courseother steps may be required by the customer to identify themselves tothe machine. This may include other modes of operation such as fingerprint identification or biometric type devices. These steps which thecustomer goes through to identify themselves to the machine isrepresented in FIG. 64 by the customer ID sequence which is indicated134.

[0142] After the customer identifies themselves to the machine, themachine is programmed to proceed through the main transaction sequencegenerally indicated 136. This main transaction sequence preferablyprovides the customer with a menu of the various transaction optionsthat are available to be conducted at the machine 10. The transactionflow proceeds in FIG. 64 from a step 138 in which a customer chooses toconduct a deposit transaction which involves the input of documents,such as currency bills or notes.

[0143] When the customer indicates that they intend to make a depositthe machine next executes a step 140. In step 140 an inner gateindicated 142 in FIGS. 4 and 5 moves to block further access to theinterior of the machine from delivery/reject area 60. After the innergate 142 is extended, the program next executes a step 144 in which thefront gate 54 on the machine is moved to uncover opening 52. In thisposition a customer is enabled to insert a stack of documents indicated146 in FIG. 5 into the delivery/reject area 60 between belts 58 and 56.As shown in FIG. 5, belts 58 and 56 may also be run inwardly to help toposition the stack 146 against the inner gate 142.

[0144] As shown in FIG. 6, delivery/receipt sensors 148, 150 arepositioned inside the housing of the machine adjacent to opening 52. Inthe transaction flow, as shown in FIG. 64, a step 152 is executed todetermine if the deposit stack 146 has been moved past the sensors. Adetermination is made at a step 154 as to whether the sensors are clear.If sensors 148 and 150 are not clear, a step 154 is carried out In step154 efforts are made to clear the sensors. This is done by running thetransport belts 56 and 58 inward at a step 156 and prompting thecustomer at step 158 to input their deposit A check is then made againto see if the sensors have cleared. Provisions are made in thetransaction flow so that after a number of tries to clear the sensors,the transport belts 56 and 58 are run in reverse to remove anything thathas been input into the machine, and the gate 54 is closed.

[0145] If however the sensors 148 and 150 are clear indicating that astack of documents has been properly inserted, the transaction flowmoves to a step 160 in which the front gate 54 is again closed as shownin FIG. 6. The transaction flow then moves on to a step 162 in which theinner gate 142 is retracted so that the stack 146 can be furtherprocessed in the manner hereafter described.

[0146] The stack is next moved as schematically shown in FIG. 7 from thedelivery/reject area 60 to the unstack area 72. This is accomplished asshown in FIG. 65 by moving a carriage which supports fourth belts 64upwards in the input/output area 50 as shown in FIG. 8. The carriage forbelts 64 is moved upward to engage a carriage supporting belts 62 and 58and to move it upward as well. The carriages move upward until stack 146is sandwiched between belts 56 and 58. This is represented by step 164in FIG. 65. Belts 58 and 56 are then driven to move the stack inwardlytoward the unstack area 72.

[0147] The unstack area 72 is shown in greater detail in FIG. 9. Itincludes transport belts 76 and pick belts 78, which are independentlyoperable by motors or other suitable driving devices. A strip back stop166 is movably positioned in the area between transport belts 76 andbelts 168 on tray 74. It should be understood that belts 76, 78 and 168are arranged to be in intermediate relation when the tray 74 is movedadjacent thereto in a manner described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,507,481 thedisclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0148] Unstack area 72 includes an unstack wall 170. Unstack wall 170includes a plurality of steps 172 thereon, the purpose of which is laterexplained. Unstack wall 170 includes therein a plurality of generallyvertically extending slots (not shown). Tray 74 includes a plurality oftray projections 174 which extend from an upper surface of the tray andinto the slots. Adjacent to pick belt 78 are contact stripper wheelsindicated 176 and non-contact stripper wheels 178, the function of whichis later explained.

[0149] In operation of the machine the stack 146 is moved into theunstack area for unstacking. This is represented by a step 180 in FIG.65. As shown in FIG. 10, in the step of moving the stack 146 into theunstack area, the tray 174 is moved sufficiently away from the transportbelts 76 so that stack 146 may be moved therebetween. The backstop 166is raised to allow entry of the stack. Transport belts 76 and tray belts168 move forward so that stack 146 moves towards unstack wall 170. Inthe preferred form of the invention tray 74 is spring biased upwards andonce stack 146 is moved therebetween the stack is held between belts 168on tray 74 and transport belts 76 and pick belts 78 by the biasing forceacting on the tray.

[0150] As shown in FIG. 11, once the stack 146 moves past the backstop166, the backstop is lowered to be in position behind the stack As laterdiscussed, the backstop is particularly useful when stripping doublenotes which may be picked during the unstack operation. As shown in FIG.11 belts 78 are further run in the forward direction to move stack 146towards wall 170. As shown in FIG. 12 when the stack is fully movedagainst the wall 170, the steps 172 on the wall tend to splay the sheetsin the stack. This splaying of the sheets tends to break the surfacetension between the adjacent sheets and facilitates the separation ofeach adjacent sheet from one another. It should be noted that the steps172 are configured in a progression so that the engagement of the sheetsin the stack 146 with the steps 172 do not interfere with the movementof tray 74 upward as sheets are removed from the stack. This enablestray 74 to apply a continuous upward biasing force such that the uppermost sheet in the stack engages pick belts 78.

[0151] Referring again to the transaction flow in FIG. 65, once thestack has been moved to the unstack position a check is made at a step182 to verify the presence of bills in the unstack area Assuming thatbills are properly in position the flow then moves to an unstack routineat a step 184. As later explained in detail the control system 30 of thepresent invention is a novel type control system which facilitates therapid operation of the machine. As represented by phantom step 186 thecontrol system operates to perform tasks concurrently. As a result,rather than unstacking a single note in the manner hereafter describedand then waiting for it to be processed, the preferred embodiment of thecontrol system 30 unstacks a note and as soon as that note has left theunstack area, proceeds to unstack another note. This enables providing astream of separated sheets which are concurrently moving in the centraltransport under control of the control system. This greatly speeds theoperation of the machine.

[0152] The operation of the machine in the unstack operation isschematically represented in FIG. 13. As shown therein, the stack 146 inthe unstack area 72 is separated into single sheets which are movedthrough the central transport 70 in the direction of Arrows C. The notesare then selectively directed for reasons later explained by divertgates 90 into either the delivery/reject area 60 or the escrow area 66.

[0153] The operation of the machine to unstack sheets in the unstackarea 72 is explained with reference to FIGS. 14-17. The stack 146 isbiased upwards against the pick belts 78 by the tray 74. The lowerflight of belts 78, which is engaged with the top sheet in the stack, ismoved towards the left in FIG. 14 to pick a sheet 188. As shown in FIG.17 the pick belts 78 are supported on rollers and extend beyond theouter circumference of abutting non-contract stripper wheels 178.Contact stripper wheels 176 are arranged in generally abutting relationopposite the inner two strip belts 78. As the strip belts move to theleft as shown in FIG. 14, the contact stripper wheels and non-contactstripper wheels 176 and 178 do not move. This serves to keep sheetsother than the top sheet in the stack.

[0154] Referring again to FIG. 14, if the sheet 188 that is moved fromthe stack is a single sheet, this condition is sensed by the doublessensors 80. This means that the sheet is suitable for movement in thecentral transports. The sheet then moves past the doubles sensors 80into the vicinity of take away rolls 190, 192. In response to the sheetbeing sensed as a single sheet, take away roll 192 moves from theposition shown in phantom to the position shown in solid lines in whichwherein it is in engagement with the sheet 183. The take away rolls 192,190 are driven in the directions indicated to move the sheet away fromthe stack. The driving of the take away rolls is timed by the controlsystem 30 to assure that sheet 188 is properly spaced a distance fromthe proceeding unstacked sheet moving through the central transport.

[0155] As shown in FIG. 15 sheet 188 is moved by take away rolls 190 and192 past pre-centering sensors 82. The pre-centering sensors operate ina manner later described to sense the position of the edges of thesheet. The signals from the pre-centering sensors 82 are used by thecontrol system 30 to move a shuttle which is associated with deskewingand centering operations for the sheet. The control system moves theshuttle transversely in the transport path to a position in which it isenabled to catch the moving sheet in the manner that will enable thesheet to be aligned. This is particularly valuable when the sheets whichare removed from the stack are of different sizes.

[0156] It should be understood that while the U.S. has currency which isthe same size for all denominations, other countries use different sizeddocuments for various currency types. It is a fundamental advantage ofthe present invention that the documents inserted by a user need not bearranged so that the documents are all of the same size, nor do thedocuments need to be oriented in any particular direction in order to behandled by the preferred embodiment of the invention. The unstackingmechanism of the preferred embodiment is particularly well adapted tounstacking the sheets having various sizes and which may not necessarilybe positioned so as to be in alignment with the wall 170, particularlyfor the sheets in the middle of the stack 146.

[0157] In the event that a double bill is sensed by doubles sensors 80,the bills can be separated. A double bill is indicated in FIG. 16 bysheets 194 which for purposes of this example, are considered to be twooverlapped sheets. To separate these sheets pick belts 78 are stoppedand tray 74 is moved downward so that the stack 146 is no longer biasedagainst the lower flights of pick belts 78.

[0158] Pick belts 78 are then run backwards such that the lower flightthereof is moved to the right as shown. This pulls sheets 194 back intothe stack. The contact stripper wheels 176 and the non-contact stripperwheels also rotate to facilitate pulling the sheets back into the stack.This is accomplished in the preferred embodiment by having the stripperwheels operated by a one way clutch. The stripper wheels may rotatefreely in the direction shown in FIG. 16, but may not rotate in theopposed direction. The movement of belts 78 pulls the sheets 194 backinto the stack. The strip backstop operates to prevent the sheets frommoving too far and falling out of the stack.

[0159] Once the sheets 194 are returned to the top of the stack the tray74 is again raised and a picking operation is attempted. Generally oneor more repeated attempts to strip the sheets will be successful suchthat sheets are continuously removed from the stack 146 one by one.

[0160] The transaction flow associated with the sensing of doubles andefforts to strip the top sheet are represented in FIG. 65. In a step 196a determination is made as to whether a double has been sensed duringthe unstack routine. If so, the step associated with lowering the stack198 is executed. The pick belts are moved in reverse in a step 200 topull the doubles back into the stack and the stack is then raised at astep 202. As previously discussed, the unstack routine is then startedagain Of course if doubles are not sensed when a sheet is picked, thesheet moves past the pre-centering sensors 82 and the transverseposition of the note in the transport is sensed at a step 204.

[0161] After a document passes the pre-centering sensors, it then movesto the deskew and aligning device 84. This device is adapted to catch amoving sheet and align its leading edge transversely to the direction oftravel of the sheet in the sheet path Once the leading edge of the sheethas been transversely aligned the device 84 operates to move the sheetso that its center line is in alignment with the center line of thetransport path Doing this enables the document to be more rapidlyidentified for reasons which are later explained.

[0162] As shown in FIG. 20 the deskew and alignment device includes ashuttle indicated 204. The shuttle is comprised of a pair of shuttlehalves 206 and 208. Each shuttle half is connected to a drive shaft 210which operates to move pinch wheels 212 and 214 on the shuttle halves inthe manner hereafter explained. The shuttle 204 is also movabletransversely on drive shaft 210. The shuttle also includes a firstsensor 216 adjacent to shuttle half 206 and a second sensor 218 adjacentto shuttle half 208. The shuttle also includes a middle sensor 220. Thepinch rolls engage a segmented idler shaft 222.

[0163] Referring to FIG. 18, shuttle half 206 is schematically showntherein. The shuttle half includes a solenoid 224. Solenoid 224 isconnected to a movable brake rod 226 which is movable on pins 228. Thepinch wheel 212 revolves around a center pin 230. The center pin 230 ismovably mounted in a slot 232 on the body of the shuttle half 206.

[0164] The drive shaft 210 is a splined type shaft as shown. The shaft210 extends through a drive wheel 234 which is mounted for rotation onthe body of the shuttle half 206.

[0165] As shown in FIG. 18 when the solenoid 224 is not energized thepinch wheel 212 is biased into engagement with the drive wheel 234 by aspring schematically indicated 236. The pinch wheel 212 rotates inresponse to rotation of the drive shaft 210. The rotation of the pinchwheel 212 also engages the independently rotatable segments of thesegmented shaft 222?. Documents are enabled to pass through the nipbetween pinch wheels 212 and 222 in response to rotation of pinch roll212 by the drive wheel 234.

[0166] As shown in FIG. 19, when the solenoid 224 is energized the brakerod 226 moves. The movement of the brake rod causes the brake rod toengage pinch wheel 212. As the brake rod engages the pinch wheel, thepinch wheel is displaced from the drive wheel 234 and is prevented frommoving until the solenoid is again de-energized and the brake rod isretracted. As a result, any document that is positioned in the nipbetween pinch roll 212 and segmented shaft 222 when the solenoid isenergized, will be stopped in this position. The documents is preventedfrom moving in the area of the nip until the solenoid is de-energized.

[0167] The operation of the shuttle is schematically indicated in FIGS.21-24. As shown in FIG. 21 a sheet or document 238 is shown moving inthe direction of the arrow in the sheet path. The shuttle is moved priorto arrival of the sheet in a transverse direction on the drive shaft 210so that pinch rolls 212 and 214 will both engage the sheet. This is doneby the control system 30 based on the signals from the pre-centeringsensors 82 which are upstream of the shuttle 204. The shuttle is movedtransversely in the sheet path by a fast acting motor or other suitabledevice.

[0168] In response to the sheet 23 8 moving into the area adjacent tothe pinch rolls, the sensors 216, 218 and 220 sense the sheet. Becausethe sample sheet 238 is skewed, the sensor adjacent to pinch roll 214which is sensor 218, will sense the leading edge of the sheet first.When this occurs, the solenoid associated with the shuttle half 208energizes, stopping movement of pinch roll 214, while roll 212 continuesto rotate in response to rotation of shaft 210. As a result, sheet 238begins to rotate about the pinch point 240 created between thestationary roll 214 and segmented shaft 222. Sheet 238 moves such thatits leading edge 242 begins to move into an aligned condition in adirection transverse to the direction of sheet movement

[0169] As shown in FIG. 23, sheet 238 rotates about pinch point 240until leading edge. 242 is transversely aligned with the sheet path Whenan aligned condition is reached, the solenoid 224 is energized to stopmovement of pinch roll 212. This produces a second pinch point 244between the note 238 and the idler shaft 222.

[0170] In the stopped condition of the note shown in FIG. 23, theleading edge 242 of the sheet extends in the sheet path beyond centeringsensors, generally indicated 246. The centering sensors are operative tosense the side edges of the sheet indicated 248 and 250 in FIG. 23, in amanner hereinafter described Upon sensing the side edges the controlsystem 30 determines the position of a center line of the sheet 238.This center line is indicated schematically in FIG. 23 as 252. Theshuttle then moves the sheet transversely in the manner indicated inFIG. 25. The sheet is moved in engaged relation between the pinch rolls212 and 214 and the segmented idler shaft 222. As shown in FIG. 24,sheet 238 is moved to the right such that the sheet center line 252 isin alignment with a center line of the transport path 254.

[0171] Once the sheet has been deskewed in this manner and has beenmoved into a centered relation in the transport path, the solenoidsoperating the pinch rolls 212 and 214 are released simultaneously todischarge the sheet 238 from the shuttle. This is done in the mannerwhich assures that sheet 238 is properly spaced from a preceding sheetOptimally the sheet is not delayed any longer than is absolutelynecessary to assure that the sheet is properly oriented.

[0172] The schematic view of the components of the centering circuitwhich is used in connection with the centering sensors 246 and thepre-centering sensors 82 is schematically indicated in FIG. 26. In thepreferred embodiment of the invention the sensors 246 are chargedcoupled devices (CCDs) which are used for sensing edges of the sheet Anemitter is provided on an opposed side of devices for providing aradiation source for sensing the edges of the sheet Signals from thesensors 246 are transmitter to an amplifier 256. Signals from theamplifier are forwarded to a digitizing comparator 258. The digitizingcomparator is provided with a threshold input from an interface 260.

[0173] A trip point output from the interface 260 is determined by asoftware routine that adjust the threshold input for the presence of anote based on the radiation received by the sensors when no note ispresent. This enables adjusting the sensors for changes during theoperation of the device, such as changes in the intensity of theemitters or accumulation of dirt on the emitters or sensors.

[0174] The output from the digitizing comparator is transmitted to aprogrammable logic device 262. The programmable logic device determinesthe position of the edge of the note and transmits output signals alongwith timer signals to a processor 264. The processor generates signalsin accordance with its programming to move the shuttle to the desiredposition. In the case of the pre-centering sensors, the shuttle is movedto a position to ensure that it encounters the note. In the case of thecentering and deskew operation sensors the shuttle is moved to assurethat the note is moved to align it with the center of the transport. Thetiming signals also track when the leading and trailing edges of thenote encounter the sensors to enable the control system to maintainproper separation of the notes within the central transport. The signalsfrom the sensors 246, as well as those from sensors 216, 218 and 220 onthe shuttle, are used to assure that a note which has been released fromthe shuttle moves away in the proper coordinated fashion.

[0175] The logic flow associated with the deskew and alignmentoperations is shown with reference to the steps shown in FIG. 65. Asindicated by a step 266, the signals from the pre-center sensors 82 areused to move the shuttle to assure that it engages the note. A deskewingstep 268 operates in the manner already described to align a leadingedge of the note so that it extends transversely to the direction ofsheet movement in the transport At a step 270 the center line of thesheet is moved into alignment with the center line of the sheettransport. The sheet having been deskewed and aligned, it is released ata step 272 in a timed manner and continues on its way in the sheet path.

[0176] As shown in FIG. 13, after a document leaves the deskew andalignment device the document moves through the area of the centraltransport where it is sensed by various sensors associated with theidentification device 88. In the preferred form of the invention theidentification device is of a type shown in U.S. patent application Ser.No. 08/749,260 filed Nov. 15, 1996 which is incorporated herein. Thisidentification device is suitable for identify the type and denominationof a passing document It also is suitable for distinguishing genuinedocuments from suspect documents. An advantage of the device used in thepreferred embodiment is its ability to identify a document despite thefailure of the document to be in alignment with the sheet path. Itshould be understood that because of variable conditions, despiteefforts made to orient the sheet, sheets may still be somewhat out ofalignment at the time of analysis by the identification device. Ofcourse in other embodiments, other devices for identifying sheets may beused.

[0177] The analysis of the note by the identification device 88 producessignals. These signals may be indicative of the note type anddenomination Alternatively, the signals may be indicative that the notecannot be satisfactorily identified or are invalid. These signals aretransmitted to the control system 30 which operates the divert gates 90adjacent to the central transport As shown in FIG. 27, in a preferredembodiment of the invention, documents which cannot be identified with ahigh degree of confidence are routed by gates 90 to the delivery/rejectarea 60 and are supported on second belts 58. Such rejected notes arerepresented in FIG. 27 by a stack 274.

[0178] Identified documents suitable for deposit are routed by divertgate 90 into the escrow area 66 where such notes are supported on belts64. Such identified documents are represented in FIG. 27 by stack 276.It should be understood that the routing of identified sheets to theescrow position 266 is optional depending on the programming of thecontrol system 30 of the machine. Identifiable notes may be directlyrouted to appropriate storage areas for recovery.

[0179] The transaction flow associated with the analysis of thedocuments and routing to the reject/delivery and escrow areas isrepresented in FIG. 66. The analysis of the moving documents isrepresented by a step 278. If the note is properly identified in a step280, a check is next made at a step 282 to determine if the machine isin a deposit mode. If so properly identified notes are routed to storagelocations in the recycling canisters. If the machine is not currently ina deposit mode, which is the case with the example described, properlyidentified notes are routed to the escrow position in a step 284.

[0180] If in step 280 a note is not identifiable or is identified asunacceptable the note is routed to the reject position in a step 286. Ofcourse it should be understood that the unstacking, pre-centering,deskewing, aligning and note identifying steps are all ongoingconcurrently as each document passes through the central transport. Thenotes are continuously being directed to the escrow or reject positionsuntil the stack of notes has been completely unstacked.

[0181] In the operation of the invention of the preferred embodiment,unidentifiable sheets, sheets which are unacceptable and sheets whichappear suspect are returned to the customer from the input/output area50. This is schematically represented in FIG. 28 which shows the rejectstack 274 being delivered to the customer through the opening 52. Thisis normally done by the machine after displaying to the customer,through the interface 14, information on the number of documents whichwere unidentifiable or unacceptable in the deposit stack that theysubmitted. The customer would also be advised of the value of thedocuments that have been properly identified. In alternative embodimentsthe customer may be given the option through an input to the customerinterface to retry the rejected sheets to determine if they can beidentified. If this occurs, the machine may be programmed to run thereject stack 274 back through the central transport in the mannerpreviously done with the deposited stack. This is a matter of choice inthe programming of the machine and depends on the preferences of theoperator of the machine.

[0182] Assuming that the reject stack 274 is to be returned to thecustomer, the reject stack is delivered to the customer in the mannerindicated in FIG. 29. The inner gate 142 is extended while the carriagesupporting belts 64 are raised so that stack 276 engages the carriagesupporting belts 62 and 58. Belts 58 are raised such that the rejectstack engages belts 56. As reject stack 274 is sandwiched between belts56 and 58 the gate 54 is opened. The reject stack 274 is moved by belts56 and 58 out through opening 52 in the housing of the machine. Thedelivery and receipt sensors 148, 150 adjacent to opening 52 areoperative to sense movement of the stack

[0183] The transaction flow associated with the delivery of the rejectstack to the customer is represented in FIG. 66. In a step 288, adetermination is made as to whether notes are present in a reject stackafter all the sheets have been unstacked and passed through the centraltransport If so, the reject stack is moved to the delivery position instep 290. The inner gate is closed in a step 292, as shown,in FIG. 29.The front gate is then opened at a step 294 and the belts are driven todeliver the reject stack to the customer at a step 296.

[0184] As shown in FIG. 67, the customer may then be prompted to takethe reject stack at a step 298. This is done through the customerinterface. The sensors 148 and 150 are then monitored at a step 300 anda decision is made at a step 302 as to whether the reject sheets havebeen taken. If the sheets have been taken the front ate 54 of themachine is closed at a step 304 and the inner gate is retracted at astep 306.

[0185] As previously discussed, in the described embodiment of theinvention the customer is required to take the reject sheets. Thereforeif at step 302 the customer has not taken the sheets, the transport isoperated to push the sheets out the opening 52 in a step 308. After thetransport has been run sufficiently to push the sheets out, the frontgate is closed.

[0186] In alternative embodiments of the invention the customer may havethe option of having the reject stack retried to determine if thedocuments can be identified. In other alternative embodiments themachine may be programmed not to return unidentifiable or rejectedsheets to the customer. This may be done for purposes such as to preventpotentially counterfeit sheets from being placed back in circulation. Ifthe machine is programmed in this manner the reject stack 274 may bemoved in the manner shown in FIG. 30 back into the unstack area of themachine for a further pass through the central transport In this secondpass the sheets may either be again returned to the reject area if theycannot be identified; placed in the escrow area if they may beidentified; or alternatively, passed into a storage location in therecycling canisters or dump area 132 for later analysis. Because thepreferred embodiment of the present invention is capable of trackingindividual sheets which are passed through the machine, it is possiblefor the machine to track where particular sheets originated based ontheir storage location and position within a storage location.

[0187] Returning to the operation of the described embodiment, the stack276 held in the escrow position is now moved upward in the input/outputarea as indicated in FIG. 31. At this point the customer may have theoption of receiving the identifiable sheets that they have depositedback. This may be done for example if the customer does not agree withthe count of the sheets by the machine. This may be accomplished byprogramming the machine so that the customer can obtain return of thedocuments in escrow by an appropriate input to the interface.

[0188] If the machine is programmed to deposit the identified documentsheld in escrow, the machine moves the document stack 276 in a mannershown in FIG. 31. Alternatively, the escrow stack will be moved in themanner shown in FIG. 31 if the machine requires a customer input todeposit the escrow documents and such an input is given through thecustomer interface.

[0189] When the escrow stack 276 is to be deposited in the machine, belt64 is raised to the position shown in FIG. 32 and the escrow stack 276is sandwiched between belts 62 and 64. The belts are then driven to movethe escrow stack 276 into the unstack area of the machine in the mannerpreviously described.

[0190] The operation of the drive rolls and movable belt carriages ofthe input/output area 50 are described in greater detail in FIGS. 33 and34. The carriage associated with belts 64 is moved upward and downwardby a driving mechanism. The carriage supporting belts 62 and 58 is freefloating but is restricted in the degree to which it may move downward.The carriage supporting belts 56 may rotatably conform to the positionof an adjacent stack but is generally prevented from moving downward.This configuration minimizes the complexity of the input/outputmechanism.

[0191] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the carriagesupporting belts 64, 62 and 68 are guided to move vertically by a firstguide/drive shaft 310 and a second guide/drive shaft 312. Theguide/drive shafts not only extend generally vertically, but also aresplined shafts that are rotatable by suitable transmission mechanisms inthe directions shown. Movable journal guide blocks 314 and 316 aremovable vertically on shaft 310. Each journal guide block represented byguide block 314 in FIG. 33 includes bevel gears 318. The bevel gearsoperate to transmit rotational motion from the guide/drive shaft 310 toshafts 320 and 322. Shafts 320, 322 include rollers upon which belts 56and 58 are supported respectively.

[0192] Journal guide blocks 324 and 326 are movable on shaft 312. Asindicated in FIG. 33 by journal guide block 324, the journal guide blockincludes bevel gears 328 which operate to transmit rotational motion ofthe drive/guide shaft 312 to shafts 330 and 332. Belts 62 and 64 aresupported on rolls which are driven by shafts 330 and 332 respectively.

[0193] As should be appreciated, this arrangement for driving the beltsin the input/output area reduces complexity compared to otherarrangements. This arrangement also increases flexibility forselectively positioning stacks of documents.

[0194] Returning to the sample transaction flow with the escrow stack276 in the position shown in FIG. 31, the transaction flow proceeds inthe manner indicated in FIG. 67. As indicated in a step 334, the escrowstack is moved upwards so that it is in a position to either bedelivered to the customer or to be moved back into the unstack position.The customer operating the machine is then prompted at a step 336 toindicate whether they wish to have the escrow stack returned to them orto deposit the amount in the escrow stack into the machine. As indicatedby a step 338, if the customer chooses to have the stack returned ratherthan deposited, the machine proceeds to return the stack to thecustomer.

[0195] The process of returning the stack is indicated through thetransaction flow represented in FIG. 68. At this point in thetransaction flow the escrow stack 276 is adjacent to opening 52, and maybe readily delivered to the customer. The inner gate is closed at a step340 and the front gate is opened at a step 342. Belts 62 and 64 are thendriven to move the escrow stack outward to present it to the customer ata step 344. A determination is made at a step 346 whether the customerhas taken the stack. This is based on signals from the sensors 148 and150. If the escrow stack is sensed as taken the machine returns to themain ATM transaction sequence at a step 348.

[0196] If the customer does not take the stack, steps are executed toencourage the customer to take the stack, or to retract it into themachine. If the stack is not sensed as taken in step 346, the customeris prompted through the interface of the machine at a step 350 to takethe stack. If the stack is now sensed as taken, a step 352 returns themachine to the main sequence. If however the stack is still not taken,the transaction flow proceeds through steps 354 and 356 in which thestack is recovered and stored, and an irregular transaction is noted.This may occur for example by retracting the stack into the machine,closing the gate, and then passing the stack through the centraltransport to one of the storage areas.

[0197] Alternative forms of the invention may provide for crediting thecustomer's account for amounts which they indicated they wished to havereturned but did not take. If the machine is programmed to operate inthis manner the documents in the escrow stack will be stored accordingto their type and denomination in the various storage areas in therecycling canisters. Alternatively, the documents in the escrow stackmay be stored separately in one of the storage areas. The machine may beprogrammed to allow the customer to return at a later time and obtainthe documents in the escrow stack. This may be valuable for example ifthe customer forgets to take the stack or is distracted while performingtheir transaction.

[0198] In most cases when a customer has deposited documents in themachine, they will choose to have the finds credited to their account.As a result, in the transaction flow at step 338 they will indicatethrough the customer interface that they wish to make a deposit. Thetransaction flow moves through a step 358 in which the machine is set todeposit mode. Thereafter the escrow stack 276 is moved to the unstackarea at a step 360. This is done in the manner previously described forthe deposited stack.

[0199] As shown schematically in FIG. 35, the escrow stack will now beunstacked in the manner previously discussed. However, now instead ofthe unstacked bills being routed by the divert gate 90 to the escrowarea and delivery/reject area, the bills are selectively routed downwardin the machine as shown, to the various storage areas in the recyclingcanisters. During this operation each of the unstacked bills is againidentified by the bill identification apparatus 88. The identificationof the bill type is used to selectively route each document to thestorage area where documents of that type are stored It should also beunderstood that the internal memory of the machine is preferablyprogrammed to record the type of document held in the escrow stack andto compare the document type determination made in the initial pass tothe type determination made in the second pass. In the event of an erroror inconsistency, the divert gate 90 may be used to route any irregulardocuments to the delivery/reject area 60 instead of moving them downinto a storage location in the machine.

[0200] As can be appreciated with the transaction flow beginning at step358 in FIG. 67, the escrow stack undergoes the unstacking processpreviously described in connection with steps 184, 196 and 204. Eachnote is also deskewed and centered with regard to the transport path andthen released.

[0201] The note undergoes analysis in the manner discussed in connectionwith step 278 and if the note is properly identified in step 280, thetransaction flow moves to a step 262 when the machine is in the depositmode. In step 262 each note is dispatched to an appropriate storagelocation. Notes are moved through this central transport in thedirection of Arrows “D” shown in FIG. 35. Each note is then routed to anappropriate storage location at a step 264. It should be appreciatedthat notes are moving concurrently toward different storage locationsunder the control of the control system FIG. 35 shows an example of anote being deposited in storage area 102. It should be understoodhowever that notes may be moved into numerous storage areas during thedeposit process.

[0202] The notes in the stack 276 continue to be unstacked until thestack is determined to be depleted at a step 266. Assuming that no noteshave been rejected during the deposit process, the transaction flow maythen return to the main ATM transaction sequence at a step 268. Thecustomer may be provided with a receipt for their deposit and maycontinue with other transactions.

[0203] In the operation of the central transport 70 there are places inwhich moving notes must undergo generally 180 degree turns. One exampleof this is indicated by transport section 370 which is shown in FIG. 35.In transport section 370, documents that have been aligned in thetransport path have their direction reversed so that they can be passedadjacent to the identification device 88. Transport section 370 requiresthat the bills be transported accurately and maintain their spacedaligned relation. The documents are also preferably not crumpled orotherwise distorted, as this may adversely impact their ability to beidentified in the following section. More details regarding transportsection 370 are shown in FIGS. 36-38.

[0204] Transport section 370 includes a plurality of belts 372. Thesebelts in the preferred embodiment are V-type belts that engage drivingand idling rolls 374, 376 and 378. In the preferred form of theinvention the “V” cross section of belts 372 is pointed radially inwardas the belt passes rolls 374, 376 and 378.

[0205] As belts 372 move between rolls 374 and 376 they are supported oncarriage rolls 380. The carriage rolls 380 support the belt in a mannersuch that the “V” section is pointed away from the carriage rolls. Aflat top surface of each belt is positioned adjacent to an annulardimple 382 on the outer circumference of each carriage roll. Carriagerolls 380 are also spaced from one another. Guides 384 which generallyhave a somewhat lesser diameter than the carriage rolls are positionedin between. An example of a guide 384 is shown in greater detail in FIG.37.

[0206] When a note 386 passes through transport section 370 it is heldbetween the flat surfaces of belt 372 and dimples 382 of the carriagerolls as shown in FIG. 38. The notes move around the carriage rollswithout being skewed or distorted. When the notes are passed to the areaadjacent to roll 376 projections 388 on the guides urge the note awayfrom engagement with the carriage rolls and in the desired direction.

[0207] This configuration is used in a preferred embodiment of theinvention as it has been found that notes may generally be transportedthrough the transport section 370 without adversely impacting theiraligned and separated relation. The ability to turn the note path 180degrees also greatly reduces the overall size of the automated bankingmachine.

[0208] As shown in FIG. 35 notes which are passed through the centraltransport 70, and which are moved to storage areas within the machine,pass downward through the central transport through remote transportsegments 108, 110, 112 and 114. These remote transport segments operateas part of a remote transport. The remote transport segments arevertically aligned in the preferred embodiment so as to enable documentsto be selectively transported between the transport segments. Thetransport segments also enable documents to be selectively directedeither through the transport segments or into or out of the adjacentcanister transports, one of which is positioned adjacent to eachtransport segment. The selective directing of documents is achievedthrough use of a media gate associated with each transport segment whichis operated under the control of the control system 30.

[0209] An example of a transport segment used in a preferred embodimentof the invention is indicated by transport segment 110 shown in FIG. 39.Transport segment 110 includes a plurality of spaced belt supportingrolls 390, 392. Each of the rolls support a belt 394 thereon (see FIG.44). An inner flight 396 of each belt 394 is positioned adjacent to afirst sheet supporting surface 398 and a second sheet supporting surface400. The sheet supporting surfaces each include a plurality of spacedraised projections or dimples thereon. These raised projections serve tobreak surface tension and minimize the risk of documents stickingthereon.

[0210] The principles of operation of transport segment 110 as well asthe canister transport used in the preferred embodiment, can beappreciated with reference to FIGS. 45 and 46. The transports operate byholding documents in engaged relation between an outer surface of a beltflight and projections which extend toward the belt flight from anadjacent supporting surface. In the example shown in FIG. 45, beltflights 402 extend adjacent to a supporting surface 404. Projections 406extend transversely between the belt flights from the supportingsurface. A document 408 which is engaged between the belt flights andthe supporting surface is biased by the projections 406 to remainengaged with the belt flights. This enables movement of the belt flightsto accurately move the document 408 in engaged relation therewith.

[0211] Returning to FIG. 39, projections 410 extend from first sheetsupporting surface 398. Projections 410 are generally segmentedprojections and include tapered leading and trailing edges to minimizethe risk of documents snagging thereon. Idler rolls 412 and 416 are alsojournaled on and in supporting connection with the member which includessheet supporting surface 398. Idler rolls 412 and 416 are generallypositioned in aligned relation with inner flights 396 and perform afunction which is later explained.

[0212] Each remote transport segment has a canister transport adjacentthereto. In the case of transport segment 110, canister transport 126extends adjacent thereto as shown in FIG. 1. Canister transport 126includes a pair of spaced belt supporting rolls 418, only one of whichis shown in FIG. 39. Rolls 418 support belts 420 which include lowerflights 422. Lower flights 422 extend adjacent to a supporting surface424 which includes dimpled projections thereon of the type previouslydiscusses. Projections 426 extend from supporting surface 424 betweenthe belts and are generally parallel thereto. This structure enablesdocuments to be transported in engaged relation between the projections426 and the belt flights 422 in the manner previously described.

[0213] As shown in FIG. 44 the rolls 418 of the canister transports androlls 390 of the remote transport segments are arranged in transverselyintermediate relation, similar to the manner in which the projections onthe supporting surface are positioned transversely intermediate of thebelt flights. This assures that documents can be passed between thetransport segments in controlled relation in the manner hereinafterdescribed.

[0214] Each of the remote transport segments include a media gate whichis selectively operable to direct documents in desired directions. Inthe case of transport segment 110 the media gate associated therewith isgate 118. Gate 118 includes a plurality of movable arms 428. The armsare engaged to move together and are selectively movable about an axisof rolls 390. Each arm 428 has a roll 430 movably mounted thereon. Eachroll 430 which serves as a diverter roll, is positioned in alignmentwith a corresponding inner belt flight 396.

[0215] The operation of the remote transport segment and media gate willnow be explained with reference to FIGS. 39-43. As shown in FIG. 39,when the diverter roll 430 of the gate 118 is disposed from the beltflights 396, a document 432 is enabled to pass directly through theremote transport segment Although the document 432 is shown as movingupward in FIG. 39, it should be understood that documents may be moveddownward as well. Likewise documents may be moved downward and thenupward in the remote transport segment.

[0216]FIG. 40 shows a document 434 moving in a downward direction whilethe diverter roll 430 of the gate 118 is extended. In this condition thedocument 434 is directed toward the nip created by belt flights 422 andprojections 426 of the canister transport 126. As a result, moving thebelt flights 420 in the direction shown as the media gate is actuatedtransfers the document into a canister transport path along which it iscarried by the canister transport As can be appreciated from FIG. 40,when the gate 118 is actuated belt flight 396 is deformed. Idler roll416 supports the belt flight in the deformed position to preventexcessive wear as a result of friction.

[0217]FIG. 41 shows a document 436 being moved from the canistertransport to the remote transport segment 110. In the position shown themedia gate 118 operates to direct document 436 towards the remotetransport segment 108 positioned above remote transport section 110 (seeFIG. 35) and towards the central transport.

[0218]FIG. 42 shows the gate 118 in a condition that directs a document438 from the canister transport 126 downward into the remote transportsegment 110. As will be appreciated from the foregoing discussion, thepreferred embodiment of the invention enables moving documents from onestorage area to another. This function is enabled by the control systemof the machine moving documents from storage areas in canisters wherethey have been stored to storage areas in canisters either above orbelow the storage canister in the machine.

[0219]FIG. 43 shows a document 440 moving upward in the remote transportsegment 110 and being directed by the gate 118 into the canistertransport 126. The ability to move the documents in the manner shown inFIGS. 39-43 greatly facilitates the ability of the preferred embodimentof the present invention to store and recover documents. As will beappreciated from the foregoing Figures, the gate mechanisms may also beused to selectively orient documents. This may be desirable,particularly when it is desired to provide customers with documentsuniformly oriented in a stack. This may be accomplished by re-orientingthe documents prior to storage based on the orientation of each documentas determined by the identification device 88. However as discussedpreviously, the present invention does not require documents to beoriented in any particular way for satisfactory operation.

[0220] The storage of documents in a storage location is now describedwith reference to FIGS. 47-53. For purposes of this illustration,storage of a document in storage area 102, as shown in FIG. 35, will bediscussed However it should be understood that the following descriptionis generally applicable to the storage of documents in any of thestorage areas available in the machine of the preferred embodiment.

[0221] Referring to FIG. 47, storage area 102 is shown from the top.Belt flights 422 of the canister transport 26 extend above a bin door442. Bin door 442 is movably mounted above storage area 102. Bin door442 includes a supporting surface 444 which supports notes or otherdocuments moving thereon to and from adjacent storage areas. Supportingsurface 444 includes dimpled projections which serve to reduce surfacetension and sticking of documents that move thereon.

[0222] Bin door 442 includes projections 446 which engage passingdocuments and maintain the documents in engagement with belts 422. Apair of openings 448 are in aligned relation with projections 446.Openings 448 provide access for thumper wheels which are laterdiscussed. As can be seen in FIG. 47 projections 446 are taperedadjacent to openings 448 to minimize the risk of documents stickingthereon. Bin door 442 also includes a plurality of rollers 450. Rollers450 are positioned in aligned relation with belts 422. Rollers 450engage the belts and facilitate movement of the belts when the bin door442 is opened to accept a document in a manner that is later described.

[0223] Bin door 442 also includes a central opening 452. Opening 452 issized to accept a pair of closely spaced thumper wheels 454 therein. Thecentral thumper wheels 454 are similar in construction to outboardthumper wheels 456 which extend through openings 448. Central opening452 is also sized to accept feed wheels 458 and 460 which are positionedadjacent to the front of the bin door 442 covering storage area 102. Thefeed wheels 458 and 460 are connected to thumper wheels 454 by a feedbelt 462.

[0224] Is should be understood that thumper wheels 454 and 456, as wellas feed wheels 458 and 460, are supported on a surface positionedadjacent to and vertically above bin door 442. The feed wheels andthumper wheels are preferably supported on the housing of the machine,whereas storage area 102 and bin door 442 are supported on recyclingcanister 94. The recycling canister may be removed from the machine whenthe feed wheels and the thumper wheels are positioned so they do notextend through opening 452.

[0225] Bin door 442 also includes a sensor 464. Sensor 464 is an opticalreceiver type sensor that receives signals from an opto-emitter devicewhich is positioned in the machine adjacent to and above sensor 454 whenthe canister 94 is in its operative position. Sensor 464 is inconnection with the control circuitry of the machine.

[0226] The steps involved in storing a note in storage area 102 is nowdescribed with reference to FIGS. 48-53. Storage area 102 holds a stack466 of documents. Stack 466 is preferably a plurality of horizontallyoriented documents which are supported on a push plate 468. Push plate468 is biased upwards by a spring or similar mechanism. The stack isheld at its upper end by a plurality of transversely spaced frontfingers 470 and back fingers 472. The front fingers and back fingers aremovable in the manner hereinafter discussed.

[0227] Bin door 442 includes an inner surface 474 which includes aplurality of downward extending projections with recesses therebetweenIn the position of fingers 470 and 472, inward facing projections 476,478 adjacent the upper ends of the fingers 470 and 472 respectively,extend above the stack and are movable in the recesses of the innersurface of the bin door. These inward extending projections 476 and 478of fingers 470 and 472 hold the top of the stack in captured relation inthe positions shown in FIG. 48.

[0228] In FIG. 48 a document 480 is shown as it moves toward the storagearea 402. In this position prior to arrival of the document, the feedwheels and thumper wheels are positioned above the supporting surface444 of the bin door. Take away wheels 482 which are movably mounted onthe canister 94 which includes storage area 102, are moved to a positiondisposed away from the feed wheels 458 and 460.

[0229] Upon arrival of the document 480 at the storage area 102 the bindoor 442 rises upward in a front area adjacent to a front surfacethereof. The take away rolls 482 move upward while the feed wheels 458and 460 engage and move the document into the storage area 102. Fingers470 and 472 also move the upper surface of the stack downward againstthe biasing force which is applied upward by the push plate 468. Thisenables document 480 to move into the storage area above the inwardprojections of the fingers.

[0230]FIG. 50 shows the configuration of the feed wheels and take awaywheels as document 480 is moved into the storage area In this conditionthe feed wheels 458 and 460 engage document 480 as do the take awaywheels 482, so that the document may be driven into the storage area. Asshown in FIG. 50 a stripper roll 484, the operation of which is laterdiscussed in detail, remains disposed away from the feed belt 462 as thedocument 480 enters the storage area.

[0231] As shown in FIG. 51 document 480 enters the storage area 102above the stack 466. Fingers 470 and 472 are then moved outwardly asshown in FIG. 51.

[0232] As shown in FIG. 52, eventually fingers 470 and 472 are movedoutwardly a sufficient distance to release the stack 466 so it movesupwardly in response to the biasing force on the push plate 468. As aresult, document 480 is integrated into the stack as the bin door 442moves downward to its original position. When the bin door is moveddownwardly the inward extending projections on the fingers 472 and 470are in aligned relation with the recesses on the inside surface of thebin door.

[0233] From the positions shown in FIG. 52, fingers 470 and 472 moveinwardly to again capture the top surface of the stack which nowincludes document 480. The take away wheels 482 are again retracteddownward and storage area 102 is again ready to receive furtherdocuments for storage therein.

[0234] As will be appreciated from the foregoing discussion, mechanismsin addition to those shown are used to move the bin door fingers andwheels of the invention. These mechanisms may include conventionalmotors and other mechanisms and linkages suitable for use in moving thecomponents in the manner described. Such conventional components are notshown herein to promote clarity and facilitate understanding of theoperation of the invention.

[0235] It should be understood that when one or more documents arerouted into a storage location in the machine, the storage locationwhere the particular document(s) are to be stored undergoes thedescribed series of steps. While the series of operations for thestorage location has been described as receiving documents and thenintegrating them into the stack in the storage location one document ata time, it should be understood that the mechanisms in the storage areasmay optimally be configured so that a plurality of documents may becollected in the storage area above the fingers and then the fingers andbin door moved to integrate the plurality of documents into the stack.Such a configuration may be used to optimize the speed of operation ofthe automated banking machine. It should be further understood thatwhile the mechanism for storing documents in the storage areas isexemplary, other mechanisms which store such documents may be used inalternative embodiments of the invention.

[0236] The operation of machine 10 is now described with regard to atransaction in which documents are retrieved from storage areas in themachine and dispensed to a customer. This is represented schematicallyin FIG. 54. In a dispensing operation, documents will generally beremoved from a plurality of storage locations and moved concurrentlyunder the control of control system 30 to the escrow area 66. As shownschematically in FIG. 54, each of the documents removed from a storagearea is moved from the respective canister transport to the adjacentremote transport segment and directed upward by the gate to the centraltransport. In the central transport the documents each pass theidentification device 88. The type and character of the document isagain determined prior to being dispensed to the customer. The flow ofdocuments during this dispensing (document recovery) operation isrepresented by Arrows “E” in FIG. 54. Of course as can be appreciatedfrom the foregoing discussion, if at any time in the processing ofdocuments which are to be provided to a customer, an improper orunidentifiable document is found, it may be routed to thedelivery/reject area 60 for reprocessing or return into the machine.

[0237] The recovery of documents from a storage area is represented bythe sequence of operations shown in FIGS. 55-61 in connection withstorage area 102. For purposes of clarity and simplicity document 480,which was previously deposited at the top of the stack 466, will bedispensed in this exemplary sequence of events.

[0238] As shown in FIG. 55 in the initial position of storage area 102,bin door 442 is disposed downward. The inward projections of the fingers470 and 472 extend in the recesses in the inner surface 474 of the bindoor. The fingers along with the inner surface of the bin door retainthe top of the stack which is bounded by document 480. The stack 466 isbiased upwardly by spring action of push plate 468.

[0239] In the next step in dispensing the document, the fingers 470 and472 are moved outward relative to the stack. This enables document 480at the upper surface of the stack 466 to be fully engaged with the innersurface 474 of the bin door 422.

[0240] As next shown in FIG. 57 the front of the bin door 422 is movedupward. The take away wheels 482 are moved upward to engage the feedwheels 458 and 460 (see FIG. 59). Likewise stripper roll 484 is movedupward to engage feed belt 462.

[0241] It should be noted with regard to FIG. 59 that feed wheel 460includes an inner portion which has a high friction segment 486 thereon.High friction segment 486 comprises a band of resilient material thatextends part way circumferentially about the inner portion of the wheel.Feed wheel 458 has a similar high friction segment 488 thereon. The highfriction segments provide gripping engagement with a top document in thestack when the feed wheels are positioned to place the high frictionsegments in engagement with the top document.

[0242] It should further be understood that stripper roll 484 includes aone way clutch type mechanism. This one way clutch mechanism enables thestripper roll to rotate in a manner which allows a document to readilymove into the storage area 102. The clutch associated with stripper roll484 is oriented to resist movement of documents out of the storage areaIn this manner the stripper roll 484 generally strips all but thedocument at the very top of the stack and prevents other documents fromleaving the storage area. This is achieved because the high frictionsegments provide greater force moving the single document outward thanthe resistance applied by the stripper roll.

[0243] As is also shown in FIGS. 57 and 59, thumper wheels 454 and 456include an outward extending portion. These outward extending portionsare aligned so that all of the extending portions extend through therespective openings in the bin door simultaneously. As is shown in FIG.59 these extending portions are generally in arcuate alignment with thehigh friction segments on the feed wheels.

[0244] As shown in FIG. 58 to pick a document the feed wheels andthumper wheels are rotated so that the extending portions of the thumperwheels and the high friction segments of the feed wheels engage document480 at the top of stack 466. The action of the thumper wheels, feedwheels, take away wheels and stripper roll, operate to separate document480 from the stack and move it outwardly from the storage area as shownin FIG. 58. The preferred embodiment of the apparatus is generally sizedso that a single rotation of the feed wheels and thumper wheels issufficient to remove a document from the storage area. Once the documentis removed from the storage area the bin door 442 is again closed andthe take away wheels and stripper roll moved so as to be retracted fromthe canister. The fingers 470 and 472 are moved upward and then inwardto again engage the top of the stack.

[0245] As document 480 is removed from storage area 102 thetransmissivity of light through the document is sensed. The transmissionof light through the document is sensed by a sensor 490 which is similarto sensor 464 and is positioned on the bin door or other structurecovering the storage area or otherwise in front of storage area 102.Emitter 492 mounted on the machine emits sufficient light so that it canbe determined if a double note has been removed from the stack.

[0246] Emitter 492 and sensor 490 are connected to the control systemwhich is programmed to recognize when a double document has been pickedfrom the storage area. The machine may operate in a number of ways todeal with this occurrence. If the document has been removed entirelyfrom the stack, the document may be reversed in direction and depositedback into the stack. Then an attempt made to again remove it.Alternatively, in an attempted second picking operation the feed wheelsmay be oscillated back and forth as the note is being picked to minimizethe possibility that two notes will be removed together. This may bedone automatically in some conditions where documents are known to havea particularly high affinity or surface tension which makes themdifficult to separate.

[0247] Finally, in the event that repeated attempts to pick a singlenote from the storage area are unsuccessful, the machine may operate toroute the picked document(s) to another storage area or to the dump area132. The machine may then proceed to pick a next note from the stack.The programming of the machine 10 is preferably established to minimizethe delay associated when a picking problem is encountered.

[0248] After the document 480 has been successfully removed from thestorage area 102 it is transported to the remote transport segment 110and is routed by the gate 118 toward the central transport Document 480along with other documents passes the identification device 88 whichconfirms the identity of each document. The documents are deposited inthe escrow area 66 where an escrow stack 494 is accumulated. Thereafteras schematically represented in FIG. 62, escrow stack 494 is movedupwardly in the input/output area 50 of the machine. Gate 54 is openedand the stack is delivered to the customer through opening 52.

[0249] The transaction flow executed by the control system for carryingout the operations of the machine in a withdrawal transaction isrepresented in FIG. 69 and 70. As is the case with the deposittransaction, the machine first goes through a customer identificationsequence represented by a step 134 in which the customer operating themachine is identified. This customer ID sequence is not executed whenthe customer has operated the machine to conduct a prior transaction.After the customer has identified themselves, the machine goes throughthe main ATM transaction sequence 136, as previously described.

[0250] The customer next indicates at a step 496 through the customerinterface that they wish to conduct a withdrawal transaction. The amountof the withdrawal is then received by the machine based on customerinputs at a step 498. At a step 500 the machine operates to determine ifthe amount of the withdrawal that the customer has requested isauthorized by the programing of the machine and/or the programming of acomputer which is in communication with the machine. If not, the machinereturns to the main sequence and provides instructions to the customer.

[0251] If the amount of the withdrawal is authorized, the control systemof the machine looks up the storage locations of the various billdenominations at a step 502, and calculates a bill mix to be provided tothe customer at a step 504. It should be noted that in some embodimentsof the invention, which are intended to be used primarily by commercialcustomers, the customer may be allowed to select the mix ofdenominations of bills that the customer will receive. This is done bythe control system using programmed prompts displayed on the customerinterface. The customer inputs through the customer interface thequantity of each bill type they desire. If however the machine does notprovide that option or the customer does not provide a specificdenomination selection, the machine will operate to determine the numberof various types of bills that it has available and will provide billsto the customer in denominations which will minimize the probabilitythat the machine will run out of bills of any particular type.

[0252] The machine next proceeds to a step 506 in which the controlsystem operates to pick notes from the various storage areas. Asindicated by phantom step 508, the picking operations are executedconcurrently in the preferred embodiment of the invention. Multiplebills may be picked from the various storage locations and moved as astream of separated notes through the remote transport segments and intothe central transport of the machine.

[0253] For each picking operation, after the note is picked a step 510is executed to sense for double notes having been picked from a storagelocation. If a double is sensed at a step 512 the note is retracted at astep 514 and an effort is again made to pick a single note. If howeverin step 512 a single bill is sensed the bill is released in a step 516.In step 516 the note is released in coordinated relation with the othernotes by the control system to assure that each note reaches the centraltransport of the machine in spaced relation with the other notes.However the spacing is such that the notes move concurrently and aredelivered into the escrow location at high speed.

[0254] An analysis of each passing note is done by the identificationdevice 88 which is indicated at a step 518. If the note is recognized asproper at a step 520, the note is routed to the escrow area 66 at a step522. If the note is not recognized in step 520 or is improper, it isrouted to delivery/reject area 60 in a step 524. The failure to identifya note which has come from a storage location is an unusual event. Thisis because each stored note has usually been twice previouslyidentified. Problems may arise when the note was loaded into thecanister outside the machine. If a note is rejected, the transactionflow proceeds to an error recovery step 526. This error recovery programmay include routing the note back through the central transport to adesignated storage location for later analysis.

[0255] Notes are delivered into the escrow area until all the noteswhich respond to the withdrawal request by the customer have beendelivered. The completion of the delivery is checked at a step 528. Acheck is then made at a step 530 to determine if all the notes that havebeen delivered have been properly identified. If not and there are notesin the reject area, the error recovery step 526 is executed.

[0256] If however the notes have all been properly identified the escrowstack corresponding to stack 494 in FIG. 62 is moved to the deliveryposition in a step 532. The inner gate is then closed at a step 534. Thefront gate is opened at a step 536 and the transport belts move todeliver the notes to the customer at a step 538.

[0257] At a step 540 a determination is made based on reading fromsensors 148 and 150 as to whether the stack of notes has been taken bythe customer. If so, the front gate is closed at a step 542. Thetransaction flow then returns to the main ATM sequence at a step 544.

[0258] If however the notes are not taken by the customer routines maybe executed to prompt the customer through the customer interface toremove the notes. However if the customer does not take the notes, thenstep 546 is executed to retract the notes into the machine. The frontgate is closed at a step 548 and the machine then proceeds to the errorrecovery routine. This may include for example, storing the notes in aparticular storage location. Alternatively it may involve reversing thewithdrawal transaction requested by the customer and placing the notesagain back in the various storage areas by running them through thecentral transport.

[0259] An advantage of the preferred embodiment of the present inventionis its ability to operate at high speeds. This is achieved through thearchitecture of the control system 30 which is schematically representedin FIG. 63. The preferred embodiment of the system uses a control systemwhich includes a terminal processor 548. The terminal processor containsthe general programming of the machine as well as the programs necessaryfor operation of the communication and other functions that the machinecarries out As indicated in FIG. 63, terminal processor 548 is inoperative connection with a data store which includes program dataTerminal processor 548 is in communication through appropriateinterfaces with various hardware devices 550.

[0260] Terminal processor 548 is also in operative communication with amodule processor 552. Module processor 552 orchestrates the operationscarried out by the plurality of module controllers 554, 556, 558, 560,562 and 564. As indicated, module processor 552 is also in operativeconnection with its own respective data store which holds itsprogramming. Likewise each of the module controllers preferably includedata storage for executing various programmed operations. The moduleprocessor 552 is operatively connected to each of the module controllersthrough a data bus 566. The module controllers each communicate throughthe data bus only with the module processor 552, and the moduleprocessor communicates directly with each module controller. Each modulecontroller has associated therewith hardware devices indicated 567. Eachmodule controller has associated therewith its own respective types ofhardware devices which it is responsible for operating and controlling.

[0261] In operation of the system each module controller operatesprograms to execute particular tasks associated with each hardwaredevice that is connected to it. This may be for example, a particularfunction associated with moving a mechanism or a document. These tasksare coordinated with other tasks executed through the module controllerconcerning related hardware. The movement of documents concurrentlyhowever is coordinated by the module processor 552 operating to send thecontrol signals to the various module controllers, so that documenthandling functions are carried out in a timed and coordinated relation.The terminal processor 548 controls the operation of the moduleprocessor to carry out the particular transactions which are indicatedby the terminal programming. As a result of this configuration,documents are enabled to be handled concurrently, yet independentlythroughout the machine which greatly speeds the operation of storing andretrieving documents.

[0262] The preferred embodiment of the present invention employs a novelsystem through which information concerning canisters, and the contentsof the storage areas in the canisters are stored in a programmablememory onboard each canister. This enables the control system of theinvention to control the operation of the machine to suit the propertiesof the canister and the documents housed therein. This feature alsogives the machine self-audit capability. Such capability may be used toreduce the risk of unaccounted for currency and other documents when thecanisters are transported from a location where they are replenishedand/or serviced, to a machine where they are installed.

[0263]FIG. 71 shows a canister generally indicated 600. Canister 600 issupported on a housing 610 of the machine. A portion of the housing uponwhich the canister is supported is preferably a shelf or guide structurethat enables the canister to be supported thereon within the machine.The housing 610 preferably includes tracks 612 or a comparable structurethat requires the canister 600 to be precisely positioned when it isinstalled in the machine. As schematically indicated in FIG. 71 thecanister moves in the direction of arrow P as it moves to the installedposition in the machine. Of course the canister is moved in the opposeddirection as it is removed. A suitable cooperating locking mechanism isprovided between the canister 600 and the housing 610 so that thecanister is releasibly secured in the proper position once it has beeninstalled in the machine. Such proper positioning is necessary to assurethat the stripper wheels and thumper wheels which are positioned abovethe canister in the housing are precisely aligned with the openings inthe bin doors when the canister is secured in position. Likewise othermechanisms in the housing of the banking machine which engage componentsof the canister generally require precise alignment for their operation.

[0264] A connector generally indicated 614 releasibly connects thecanister to circuitry within the machine when the canister is in theoperative position in the housing. Connector 614 in the preferredembodiment is an electrical connector which includes a fist portion 616supported on the canister. The connector 614 further includes a secondportion 618 that is supported on the housing 610. As shown schematicallyin FIG. 71 second portion 618 is biased outwardly by springs 620 tofacilitate engagement with first portion 616. Second portion 618includes a plurality of electrical contacts 622. Contacts 622 arepreferably deformable to further facilitate electrical engagement Eachcontact 622 engages a further contact 624 on first portion 616. Asindicated in FIG. 72 contacts 622 and 624 preferably engage in a nestedrelation to assure a proper electrical connection.

[0265] While an electrical connector is used in the preferred embodimentof the present invention, it should be understood that in otherembodiments other types of connectors may be used. This may includeoptical connectors, RF connectors, sonic connectors and any other typeof connector or device suitable for transmitting information between thecontrol circuitry of the machine and the memory device on the canister.While in the embodiment shown seven separate electrical connections areindicated, it should be understood that in the embodiments of theinvention any number of connections may be used. The number ofconnections depends on the type of onboard memory in the canister.Electrical connections are also dedicated to operating devices that areonboard the canister as well as transmitting and receiving signals fromdevices such as the sensors that detect the single and double noteswhich are mounted on the canisters. The present invention provides forhaving a sufficient number of contacts or channels to transmit all thenecessary signals that may need to be passed between the circuitry whichis a permanent part of the automated banking machine including thecontrol system and the memory and other devices on the canisters. Forthe embodiment of the invention described applicants contemplate thattwelve electrical connections will be amply sufficient.

[0266] In the preferred embodiment of the invention each canister has aprogrammable memory thereon. In the case of canister 600 shown in FIG.71 the programmable memory is indicated 626. In the preferred embodimentthe programmable memory comprises a Dallas chip which includes 16K bytesof memory. Of course the type and amount of memory depends on the needsof the particular machine.

[0267] The memory onboard each canister preferably includes datarepresentative of four categories of information. These categories are:

[0268] 1. Information about the contents of the storage areas in thecanister.

[0269] 2. Maintenance and status information.

[0270] 3. Calibration information.

[0271] 4. Security and tracking information.

[0272] The contents information stored in the memory includes datarepresentative of the following information in the preferred embodiment:

[0273] 1. The type of document stored in each of the storage areas(e.g., U. S. currency, Mexican currency, travelers checks, ticketsstock, etc.).

[0274] 2. The denomination of the documents stored in each of thecorresponding storage areas (e.g., $5, $10, $20, etc.).

[0275] 3. The number of documents stored in each storage area.

[0276] 4. Particular qualities of the documents stored (e.g., new, used,partially plastic coated, etc.).

[0277] 5. The orientation of the documents in the storage area.

[0278] 6. An indication of whether each storage area is suitable forboth receiving and dispensing documents or whether the storage area islimited to one of either dispensing or receiving.

[0279] It should be understood that in the preferred embodiment of theinvention all of this data which is originally input to the memory in amanner later described, is updated as the machine dispenses or receivesdocuments into the various storage areas. As a result the memory can beread at any time to provide an indication of what documents are presentin a canister. This may be done when the canister is removed from themachine using a suitable reading device. Alternatively such reading maybe done using onboard diagnostics that may be accessed in the automatedbanking machine by a person servicing or monitoring the machine'soperation.

[0280] The second category of information for which representative datais stored in the canister memory is maintenance information. Maintenanceinformation may include for example, data representative of:

[0281] 1. The revision level of the hardware and/or software which isinstalled in the canister such as the software in the memory and thehardware components installed in or adjacent to the respective storageareas.

[0282] 2. The current setup of the canister for each of the storageareas and other components (e.g., special features which may beimplemented for handling a particular type of document).

[0283] 3. Count data including information about preventativemaintenance activity (for example, the number of cycles for each storagearea since preventative maintenance was performed, the type ofpreventative maintenance previously performed at various cyclethresholds, the entities performing maintenance activities, the dates ofpast maintenance activities and the type of future maintenanceactivities and when they should be performed).

[0284] The control system of the automated banking machine uses themaintenance information to control operation of the mechanisms whichpick and deposit documents in the storage areas to conform to the statusof the hardware and software associated with those storage areas. Forexample, if a storage area has been modified to accommodate a particulartype of document the control system will control the operation ofcomponents of the machine, such as by changing speed or in anothermanner, to be optimally tailored to the particular document.

[0285] Maintenance information preferably provides an ongoing record ofvarious maintenance activities that have been performed for theparticular currency canister. This is helpful for identifying recurringproblems and maintenance activities that have been previously performedin an effort to correct those problems. Such historical information maybe very useful in determining better methods of fixing the canister. Thecount data preferably includes the number of cycles for the variousstorage areas which enables making a determination as to when componentsshould be replaced to assure continued proper operation. Suchinformation may be integrated with the information about when variousmaintenance activities have been performed in the past and/or should beperformed in the future. This enables maintenance activities which areoptimally conducted at different intervals to be tracked and performedas appropriate.

[0286] The calibration information included in the canister includes inthe preferred embodiment data representative of:

[0287] 1. The particular sensor type used in connection with eachstorage area for detecting doubles.

[0288] 2. The current threshold output signal indicative of single anddoubles document conditions in the particular documents the canister isset up to contain.

[0289] 3. Prior thresholds for singles and doubles for the canister inother machines or at other times, and information on reprogramming orresetting thresholds for the sensors.

[0290] The calibration data is preferably used to indicate to thecontrol system of the automated banking machine the type of sensors thatare onboard the particular canister adjacent to the various storageareas. As it is possible to have different types of sensors adjacent tostorage areas, the control system is preferably programmed to operate inresponse to each appropriately. For example canisters may include amixture of infrared detectors and/or detectors operating to sense lightat other frequencies. The type of detector used may depend on thedocument type which is to be sensed. The control system of the machineis preferably programmed to adjust its operation to conform to theparticular types of sensors.

[0291] The memory of the document canisters of the preferred embodimentalso includes sensor data concerning thresholds indicative of single ordouble documents, or other document conditions. This indicates to themachine the particular output signals that indicate single notes, doublenotes and other conditions, without having to recover this informationfrom other memories in the terminal. The memory further preferablyincludes information on how the control system of the terminal shouldinitialize or recalibrate the sensors. This may include for example anindication that the terminal control system should operate to adjust theintensity of an emitter corresponding to a particular sensor on acanister to a level which produces a particular output signal when nodocument is present. Such an approach tends to assure that doubles areproperly sensed. Data concerning prior settings and calibration datawhich are useful to the control system are also preferably included inthe memory. This may include information concerning settings when thecanister was installed in other machines, as well as settingscorresponding to prior calibrations in the particular machine in whichthe canister is currently installed. The memory may also includeinformation which causes the control system of the automated bankingmachine to recalibrate the sensors on the canister at periodicintervals.

[0292] The security tracking information carried in the memory of thecanisters of the preferred embodiment includes data representative of:

[0293] 1. A unique serial number associated with the canister.

[0294] 2. Information on who loaded the canister with documents on agiven date.

[0295] 3. The nature and amount of the documents that were indicated asloaded in the canister by each individual or entity on a given date.

[0296] 4. The individuals or entities responsible for transporting thecanister from the loading location to an ATM machine.

[0297] The serial number is preferably a unique serial number throughoutthe system of canisters operated by a given institution or the entirepopulation of canisters. In the preferred embodiment each canistermanufactured is assigned its own unique serial number. In this way if acanister is sold or transferred there is no confusion as to thecanisters identity. This approach enables exchanging canisters betweenvarious operators and servicers of banking machines which facilitatesoperation.

[0298] The information stored in the memory concerning loadingoperations for the canister includes information that the entityoperating the ATM system may find helpful in tracking activities relatedto the canister when outside an ATM. This preferably includes the datarepresentative of the names or identities of persons or organizationsresponsible for loading documents into the various storage areas in thecanisters, as well as the names of persons or entities who witnessed orverified such activities. The information also includes information onamounts that such entities loaded and the time and dates of suchloading. The stored information may further include information aboutthe particular apparatus or fixture which was used during each loadingoperation. The memory may be in operative connection with sensors oneach bin door, and may store a separate record concerning when eachstorage area was opened when the canister was outside an ATM. This maylater be used to compare to information input by the entities loadingthe storage locations.

[0299] Data representative of the particular courier service responsiblefor transporting the canister after it has been loaded may also beincluded in the memory. The courier service information may include datarepresentative of a particular route for an armored car or other vehiclethrough which the canister will be transported. The information may inaddition include the particular entities and/or individuals responsiblefor transporting the canister as well as an indication of who acceptedthe canisters on behalf of the entity transporting the canister to amachine. Data representative of a particular machine to which thecanister is being routed (if a particular machine is designated) mayalso be included. This information may be used as a key so that thecanister will not operate or an alarm may be given if an attempt is madeto install the canister in the improper machine. Encryption techniquesmay be used for the key data as well as to secure other data stored inmemory on canisters.

[0300] The service tracking data concerning particular entities loadingand transporting canisters may be replaced each time that the canisteris reloaded at a remote location away from the machine, or may bemaintained on an ongoing historical basis. How this is done depends onthe needs of the system operator and the amount of memory available forthis purpose. As will be appreciated from the following discussion, thisinformation may be particularly helpful if there is a discrepancybetween what is indicated to have been loaded into a canister and whatis actually determined to be in the canister when it is received in thebanking machine.

[0301] In operation the control system 30 of the automated bankingmachine of the preferred embodiment responds to the information storedin the canister memory 626 and tailors the operation of the machine inaccordance therewith. For example, the information concerning the typeand denomination of the documents in the storage areas is used to set upthe operation of the machine as well as to initialize the memory of themachine concerning what is stored in each storage location. Informationconcerning the types of documents as well as the hardware and softwareonboard the canisters is used to adjust the operation of the bankingmachine to the particular hardware and software present. These featuresenable the canisters to be installed in the machine at any of theavailable locations where canisters may be positioned. This is asubstantial advantage over certain prior art type machines which requirecanisters to be positioned in particular locations within the machine.

[0302]FIG. 73 is a schematic representation of the equipment associatedwith a canister loading operation conducted remotely from the bankingmachine. In FIG. 73 a recycling canister 628 is shown Canister 628includes four separate document storage areas indicated 630, 632, 634and 636. It should be understood that canisters used in connection withthe present invention may have a greater or lesser number of storageareas. Each of the storage areas is similar to those previouslydiscussed, from which documents may be removed or added

[0303] Canister 628 has a programmable memory thereon indicated 638.Memory 638 is similar to memory 626 on canister 600 which has beenpreviously discussed. Memory 638 is connected to a first portion of aconnector on the canister 628, the first portion being similar toportion 616 on canister 600.

[0304] A fixture 640 is shown attached to canister 628 in FIG. 73.Fixture 640 is a fixture suitable for making electrical connections tomemory 638. Fixture 640 also provides operative connections to thesensors, actuators and other devices which are onboard canister 628.

[0305] Fixture 640 is in operative connection with an input/outputdevice 642. Input/output device 642 in the preferred embodiment is acomputer which includes output devices such as a screen and inputdevices such as a keyboard or mouse. Computer 642 includes a memory anda processor. The memory includes programs which are suitable forinterfacing with the components on canister 628, as well as loading andreceiving information from memory 638.

[0306] In accordance with a method used in connection with a preferredembodiment of the invention, individuals such as employees of a bank orservice provider are responsible for loading documents into the storageareas on canister 628. This may be done at a secure location remote fromthe automated banking machines. Individuals responsible for loading thedocuments in the storage areas indicate the type and denomination of thedocuments to the memory 638 through computer 642. The individuals alsoinput information corresponding to the number of documents in thestorage area as well as document orientation. The individualsresponsible for loading the canisters also load into the memory throughinputs to the input devices information concerning whether the documentsare new or used and any other information that may be used by thecontrol system of the machine in its operations storing and removingdocuments from the various storage areas.

[0307] The individuals responsible for loading the documents alsopreferably input information concerning their identities as well as thetime that the loading operations were performed. In addition the namesof entities or individuals witnessing or verifying the loading may beincluded. This may be done through manual inputs such as through akeyboard. Alternatively such data may be read from an object or featureassociated with a user such as a card bearing magnetic or opticalindicia, or a biometric input. This identifying data is loaded throughthe computer 642 onto the memory of the canister. The individualsloading the canister also preferably indicate and load into the memorythe entities responsible for transporting the canister from the loadingarea to an automated banking machine. This may include for example thecompany and/or the particular individuals working for the company whoreceive the canister. Information loaded in memory may also include aroute number which indicates the route that the canister is to travelbefore it is installed in the machine. Again this information may beinput through several types of input devices which are operativelyconnected to the computer.

[0308] In the preferred embodiment information is loaded to the canistermemory through the computer 642. However in other embodiments, suchinformation may be added through a separate terminal which includes acomputer. A terminal may add this information in the memory at the timethe canister is taken by the individuals having responsibility forinstalling it. This may prove convenient in situations where theindividuals loading the currency do not know who will be conducting thesubsequent handling. Alternatively, loading of documents may be done byan automated banking machine with features similar to machine 10. Such aloading machine may receive a canister and count existing documents inthe storage areas checking the canister memory for any discrepancy. Themachine may then add documents to the storage areas based oninstructions from an individual responsible for reloading. The machinemay also update the canister memory. This minimizes manual labor. Card,keyboard, biometric and/or other inputs may be used to provideidentification for an authorized user to access the loading machine andto capture the data to load in the canister memory.

[0309] When the canister is removed from an ATM for reloading,preventative maintenance or modifications to the canister may beconducted. Information concerning activities of this type which areperformed are preferably loaded into the memory 638 using the computer642. In addition the computer 642 may be used to review the cycleinformation to determine if preventative maintenance is neededconcerning any of the canister components.

[0310] In one preferred embodiment of the invention the data which isstored in memory 638 may be encoded or otherwise secured to minimize therisk of unauthorized individuals gaining access thereto. Computer 642may be programmed with software requiring the input of secret passwords,public key encryption and the like to modify the data stored in acanister memory. The banking machine control system may includeappropriate capability to decipher the memory information and to providethe proper keys or other inputs to enable operation of the canister inconnection with the machine. Such precautions minimize the risk oftampering. Of course in other embodiments other approaches to securingthe data stored in the memory of the canister may be used.

[0311] After the canister has been loaded with currency and theinformation on the memory 638 updated, the canister is closed. This isdone in one preferred embodiment using suitable covers or othermechanisms which prevent accessing of the storage areas until thecanister is placed inside the machine. The courier service or otherentity responsible for transporting the canister transports it to anautomated banking machine. The interior of the machine is accessed byopening the secure portion of the machine, and an existing canister isremoved. Canister 628 is then substituted for the existing canister. Ofcourse when such operations are performed it may be common to replaceseveral of the canisters housed in the machine. Embodiments of theinvention may require the individual loading the canisters in themachine to identify themselves by a card or other input. Informationconcerning the time of insertion of the canisters may also be noted inthe memory of the machine.

[0312] Upon the control system of the automated banking machine sensinga canister replacement, or alternatively in response to a command whichis presented to the machine either through the user interface or from aremote location, the machine proceeds to do a self-audit. In theself-audit the machine removes the documents from each of the storagelocations and moves the documents through the central transport As eachof the documents is moved past the identification device 88, eachdocument is identified to determine its type and denomination. Thedocuments are then stored in the escrow area After the documents havebeen identified a comparison is made concerning the type anddenomination of the documents that the machine found to have been storedin a storage area, to the number and type of such documents that areindicated to have been loaded into such area Once the control systemdetermines that the actual document information corresponds to theinformation in the memory, the documents are loaded back into thestorage area or an alternative available storage area from which thedocuments may be later selectively dispensed. The control system thenoperates the automated banking machine to check the other storage areasand the corresponding information.

[0313] If the automated banking machine determines that there is adiscrepancy between the information in the memory of the canister andthe actual documents found to be in the canister, an appropriateindication is stored or given to indicate the discrepancy. In thepreferred form of the invention this discrepancy signal is provided to abank or other institution operating the machine which has found thediscrepancy. The manner in which such discrepancies are reported areschematically indicated through the system shown in FIG. 74.

[0314] If the automated banking machine schematically indicated 10determines that there is a discrepancy between the data loaded into thememory of the canister and the actual contents of the storage areas, asignal indicative of the discrepancy is transmitted electronicallythrough a network indicated 644. The network is connected to a hostcomputer 646. Host computer 646 is preferably a computer operated by abank or other entity which operates the ATMs.

[0315] The host computer 646 processes the message indicative of thediscrepancy. The host computer then preferably outputs a message to anappropriate output terminal 647 to indicate to a responsible individualthat such a discrepancy has been detected In one preferred embodimentthe output terminal 647 to which the message is routed is a terminalaccessible by the individuals responsible for the remote location wherethe canister reporting the discrepancy was loaded. In addition messagespassed from the automated banning machine 10 to the host computer 646may include information concerning the particular individualsresponsible for loading the currency and transporting the currency tothe machine. This information may also include the data stored in memoryconcerning times when bin doors were opened when the canister wasoutside the machine. Information on who loaded the canisters into theATM and the time thereof may also be provided. This information may alsobe output at the terminal 647 depending on the system's configuration.

[0316] The individuals who receive the discrepancy messages at outputterminal 647 may query the memory of the ATM and the canister from theremote location. This will provide information to enable checking withthe individuals responsible to uncover the cause of the possiblediscrepancy. In addition the individuals investigating the discrepancymay check the status of the memory within input/output terminal 642 orother automated loading device. This may uncover sources of potentialproblems. Uncovering and resolving discrepancies quickly minimizes therisk that improper activities will go undetected and deter instances ofpilferage.

[0317] When the automated banking machine 10 conducts a self-audit itwill generally return the documents that are initially removed from astorage area for counting and identification to a storage area. This maybe the original storage area in which the documents were loaded or maybe an alternative storage area selected by the control system of themachine. If the documents are loaded into a different storage area orthere is a different number of documents than was indicated in thememory, the control system operates to modify the information stored inthe canister memory. Similarly if the audit determines that one or moredocuments have been improperly loaded, such documents may be transportedto a storage area where like documents are stored. Again the canistermemories are updated to reflect these changes.

[0318] When a canister is loaded into a machine the control systempreferably operates to calibrate the various sensors on the canisters.This is preferably done using the sensor data stored in canister memory.Such calibration activities may include for example having the controlsystem modify the level of emitters so that the proper differentiationcan be made between signals corresponding to single and double bills. Ofcourse other calibrations may be conducted depending on the sensor typesused on the canisters. Once this calibration data is gathered suchinformation may also be stored in the canister memory. Although suchcalibration data may also be stored in other memories within theautomated banking machine, the machine may be operated based on the datastored in the canister memories. This may avoid duplication and enablelocalized processing of the data which speeds operation of the machine.

[0319] During operation of the ATM the information stored in thecanister memories is preferably updated. This may include changinginformation concerning the type and number of documents stored in eachof the storage areas. The information stored in the canister memoriesmay also include information concerning the origins of documents thatare subsequently stored in storage areas. The preferred embodiment ofthe invention determines document orientation, and informationconcerning document orientation of particular documents placed instorage locations may be stored in the memories as well. Alternatively,the ATM may reorient documents or may segregate documents of the sametype in different storage areas based on orientation. The ongoing updateof memory information enables the onboard canister memories to beaccessed so that their contents may be determined. This may preferablybe done remotely from the host computer 646 through the network 644.Alternatively service personnel accessing the banking machines mayobtain this information through an appropriate connection or interfaceon the ATM.

[0320] The control system of the automated banking machines may beprogrammed to periodically conduct a self-audit to determine whether theinformation stored in the canister memories reflects the documentsactually stored in the storage locations. Alternatively such aself-audit may be initiated through a message from host computer 646.Periodic self-auditing of the automated banking machines may beparticularly desirable in situations when individuals add currency orother documents to the canisters at the machine. If this is done byaccessing the storage locations and adding documents thereto it may beparticularly desirable to verify the amount, type and number ofdocuments added.

[0321] Automated banking machines of preferred embodiments of thepresent invention are also programmed to have their control systemconduct periodic self-calibration. Self-calibration of the varioussensors and other components is desirable to minimize the risk of errorsdue to sensor deterioration or accumulations of dirt or othercontaminants. Such self-calibration may be conducted as a result ofprogrammed instructions in the machine or may be initiated by a messagefrom host computer 646. Of course the frequency of self-calibration andself-auditing activities will be established by the entity operating themachines.

[0322] Alternatively documents may be added to the ATM of the preferredembodiment directly by input through the usual customer interface.Service providers wishing to add documents to storage areas may operatethe machine in a manner generally similar to that used by customers.This may involve insertion of identifying data on a card, through akeyboard, through a biometric reorder or combinations thereof. Documentsmay then be inserted to the input/output area and processed in themanner previously described Rather than having such documents creditedto an individuals account, the added documents are indicated as havingbeen added on behalf of the institution or other entity that operatesthe machines.

[0323] For example, an automated banking machine employing theprinciples of the invention may be used in a banking, retail or othertransaction environment where cash is taken from an available sourcewithin the institution and loaded in the machine through the currencyvalidating transport section. Such cash may be taken for example from acash register, a currency counter, vault or similar source. In someembodiments the device or source from which the cash is taken may beoperative to print a record of the cash removed from the source. Thismay be a paper record or other record indicating the amount involved.The record may include other information such as the identification ofthe person responsible and the time of the withdrawal. The persondepositing the cash may access the machine in the usual manner of acustomer such as with card, keyboard and/or biometric inputs.Alternatively other approaches may be used to provide access for aperson making a deposit on behalf of the entity who owns the machine.

[0324] Upon depositing the cash, the machine verifies the amount andstores it in one or more storage locations. The person loading themachine is preferably provided with a receipt or other record showingthe amount of the deposit. The user may keep the record for the depositwith their withdrawal record to show proper accounting for the cash. Ajournal printer within the banking machine also preferably operates tomake a record in the machine of the deposit. Alternatively, or inaddition, an electronic record may be stored in the machine or elsewherein the system to reflect that the deposit was made.

[0325] In some embodiments the deposit into the banking machine onbehalf of the machine owner may cause the machine to generateappropriate messages to a connected host computer to cause an account ofthe owner to be credited. This may occur in a similar manner to thecrediting of accounts by customers who make deposits into the bankingmachine. In alternative embodiments, no corresponding credit will bemade to the account of the machine owner. This may be done in situationswhere the machine operator owns the machine and it is sufficient to knowthat the cash of the operator has been moved on site from one storagelocation to another.

[0326] In the case of a machine operated by a bank or similar entity, ascustomers make withdrawals from the banking machine, the customer'saccounts with the machine operator are reduced electronically based onthe amount of the withdrawals. Alternatively, if the machine operator isnot a financial institution or similar entity with which customers havedeposits, customer withdrawals result in crediting of the operator'saccount at a remote financial institution, credit card company orsimilar entity. As the machine operator's account is credited, theaccounts of the customers are charged. This enables a machine operatorto earn income on available cash by being credited for at least aportion of the surcharges that customers pay for the convenience ofmaking the withdrawals. This may be very profitable for businesses thatcan receive cash within a single establishment and dispense cash tocustomers through the banking machine, a substantial portion of which isspent in the establishment.

[0327] While paper receipts to track cash transfers from a source ofcash into the banking machine may be suitable in some environments,alternative or additional approaches may be used. For example, anemployee of the institution may be provided with an object whichincludes a record of the cash withdrawal. This may include a machinereadable object that may be read by a device in or in connection with,the automated banking machine. The object may include indiciarepresentative of the amount of the withdrawal. It may also includeindicia representative of other information such as the time and date,the person receiving the cash, the denomination(s) of the cash, thesource of the cash, the intended destination of the cash, a digitalsignature, a digital image of the person taking the cash and/or otherinformation. This information can be provided in a paper record, such asby a bar code or similar indicia. Alternatively, the indicia may bestored on a card, such as on a magnetic stripe or in a memory chip on asmart card.

[0328] The person receiving the cash may be enabled to input the data onthe object representative of the taking of cash, with a reading deviceon the automated banking machine. This indicia identifying the taking ofcash can be used to verify that the amount deposited corresponds to theamount of cash taken. This may be done for example by including the dataon a magnetic stripe or chip on a card that can be read by the cardreader in the machine. The control system of the machine may beprogrammed to operate responsive to the card data to cause the machineto carry out the deposit transaction. Appropriate indications can begiven in the event of any discrepancy between the amount of cashindicated as taken and the amount deposited. Alternatively, the sourceof the cash and the banking machine may be operatively interconnected,such as through a local area network, so that an indication is given atan output device if the deposit into the machine is not made within aperiod of time measured from when the cash was taken or does notcorrespond to the cash taken.

[0329] The described method of depositing cash into an automated bankingmachine from a source owned by the machine operator may be carried outwith a machine like that described in detail herein which accepts cashdeposits from customers and dispenses cash to customers. In alternativeembodiments the method may be carried out with other types of bankingmachines. Such machines may be configured to accept deposits only fromthe machine operator and to dispense cash to customers. Numerousapproaches employing the teachings of the invention may be used.

[0330] Embodiments of the currency recycling banking machine of thepresent invention may also operate to adjust the amount and type ofcurrency in the machine to suit the needs of particular transactionenvironments. For example machines that have several currency canistersmay be programmed to identify dispensing and deposit trends and tofacilitate removal of excess notes of one type and replenishments ofneeded notes of another type.

[0331] To achieve this function the storage areas of the machine aregenerally maintained with a selected number of bills and mix of billdenominations. Some space is also maintained in the canisters so thatthere is room to accept deposited notes. In programming the machine atleast one multi-storage area canister may be designated as the exchangecanister. The exchange canister is the canister that is generallyremoved from the machine and reinstalled after additional bills areadded and/or excess bills are removed.

[0332] The control system is programmed so that when a canister is notin position the machine will continue to operate dispensing anddepositing bills from and to the remaining canisters. This isaccomplished based on the control system sensing that there is no longerelectrical contact with a canister at one of the canister positions. Asa result one (or several) canisters that are to be used as an exchangecanister can be removed while the machine remains operational.

[0333] The control system is preferably programmed to review thequantity and denominations of bills being dispensed from the machine andto compare this data to the quantity and denomination of bills beingdeposited. In some environments the quantity and mix of bills dispensedwill be substantially different from those deposited. For example,customers may tend to deposit more $1 and $5 bills than are dispensedLikewise, in some operating environments many more $20 bills may bedispensed than deposited.

[0334] The control system is operative to note the character of depositsand withdrawals and to calculate the currency requirements of themachine. This can be done based on attempts to maintain a generallyconstant bill mix and number of bills in the machine, or the mix andamounts of bills stored may be changed to meet anticipated fixturedemands based on past experience. The approach taken depends on theoperator and how they wish to program the machine.

[0335] Bills in excess of those expected to be needed may be stored inthe exchange canister. Information stored in the canister memory by thecontrol system may indicate the nature of the bills stored, and alsothat these are excess bills to be removed when the canister is reloaded.Likewise the control system may program the memory on the exchangecanister(s) to indicate that certain types of bills are needed in themachine. For example, the memory may indicate that several hundred $20bills are expected to be needed and should be added to the exchangecanister.

[0336] When the exchange canister is removed from the machine and takento a station to be replenished, the computer or terminal is advisedresponsive to the information stored memory on the canister what billsto remove and what bills to add. Such removal and additions maybe madeand the canister returned to the machine. The memory on the canister ispreferably updated prior to return to indicate that it has beenreplenished and to indicate what bills it is now holding. In response tothe reinstallation of the exchange canister and/or the indication in itsmemory that it has been replenished, the control system may run theaudit on the contents of the canister as previously described. After theaudit the control system may route the bills to other storage locationsto replenish supplies therein or return bills to the storage locationsin the exchange canister if other space is not available. If the billsare moved out of the exchange canister, any excess bills that haveaccumulated can be moved and stored therein. The approach of usingexchange canisters reduces the need to transport canisters and avoidsmachine downtime to replenish currency.

[0337] In alternative embodiments and methods of operation of theinvention, the excess currency can be discharged and needed currencyinput through the customer interface of the machine. This can be done bya service provider or employee of the machine operator who identifiesthem self to the machine in one of the ways previously discussed. Uponidentifying the user as one with authority to replenish the machine, themachine may be operated to purge excess bills of one type and requestneeded bills of another type. The screen or other output devices on thecustomer interface may be used to provide instructions for the additionand removal of currency. The removal and additions may be from and tostorage areas in one or more designated exchange canisters or from othermultiple storage locations as required. The approach taken depends onthe preferences of the operator of the machine and the programing of thecontrol system.

[0338] Thus the preferred embodiment of the present invention achievesthe above stated objectives, eliminates difficulties encountered in theuse of prior devices, systems and methods, and attains the desirableresults described herein.

[0339] In the foregoing description certain terms have been used forbrevity, clarity and understanding. However, no unnecessary limitationsare to be implied therefrom because such terms are used for descriptivepurposes and are intended to be broadly construed Moreover the foregoingdescriptions and illusions are by way of examples and the invention isnot limited to the details shown or described.

[0340] In the following claims any feature described as a means forperforming a function shall be construed as encompassing any meanscapable of performing the recited function and shall not be limited tothe means shown and described in the foregoing description as performingthe recited function, or mere equivalents thereof.

[0341] Having described the features, discoveries and principles of theinvention, the manner in which it is constructed and operated and thenew and useful results attained; the new and useful structures, devices,elements, arrangements, parts, combinations, systems, operations,methods and relationships are set forth in the appended claims.

1. A method comprising: (a) removing a currency canister from anautomated banking machine, wherein the canister includes a storage areaadapted to hold currency notes therein; (b) placing the canister removedin (a) adjacent to an automated canister reloading machine remotelylocated from the automated banking machine, wherein the canisterincludes a memory, wherein the memory is operative to store datarepresentative of information associated with the canister, wherein thereloading machine includes a supply of currency notes, wherein thereloading machine is adapted to load additional currency notes into thestorage area from the supply, and wherein the reloading machine isadapted to modify data stored in the canister memory; (c) loading thestorage area of the canister placed in (b) with currency notes throughoperation of the reloading machine; (d) installing the canister loadedin (c) into an automated banking machine. 2-34. (canceled)
 35. A methodcomprising: (a) supplying an automated canister loading machine with asupply of currency notes; (b) placing a canister in operative connectionwith the loading machine, wherein the canister is adapted to holdcurrency notes therein, wherein the canister is adapted for use in anautomated banking machine, wherein the loading machine is operative toload additional currency notes into the canister from the supply whilethe canister is remotely located from the automated banking machine; (c)adjusting a quantity of currency notes in the canister through operationof the loading machine, wherein the adjusting results in the canisterincluding a plurality of currency notes therein; (d) subsequent to (c),operatively disconnecting the canister and the loading machine.
 36. Themethod according to claim 35 wherein in (b) the canister includes afirst number of currency notes therein, wherein (c) results in thecanister including a second number of currency notes therein, whereinthe first number differs from the second number.
 37. The methodaccording to claim 36 wherein the canister includes a canister storagearea that is adapted to hold a plurality of currency notes therein,wherein the loading machine comprises a reloading machine, wherein thereloading machine is operative to have the canister storage area hold apredetermined quantity of currency notes, wherein the second number ofcurrency notes equals the predetermined quantity of currency notes,wherein (c) results in the canister holding the predetermined quantityof currency notes.
 38. The method according to claim 35 wherein thecanister includes a canister storage area that is adapted to hold aplurality of currency notes therein, wherein (c) includes loadingadditional currency notes from the supply into the canister storage areathrough operation of the loading machine.
 39. The method according toclaim 38 wherein (c) includes at least partly filling the canisterstorage area with currency notes from the supply through operation ofthe loading machine.
 40. The method according to claim 39 wherein (c)includes filling the canister storage area with currency notes resultingin a fully loaded canister.
 41. The method according to claim 38 whereinthe canister includes a memory, wherein the memory is adapted to storedata representative of information associated with the canister, whereinthe loading machine is operative to modify data stored in the memory,and further comprising (e) modifying data in the memory throughoperation of the loading machine.
 42. The method according to claim 38wherein the canister further includes a canister memory, wherein thecanister memory is adapted to store data representative of informationassociated with the canister, wherein in (b) the canister memoryincludes data representative of a number of currency notes in thecanister storage area, and further comprising (e) prior to (d), readingdata in the canister memory.
 43. The method according to claim 42 andfurther comprising (f) prior to (d), counting a number of currency notesactually existing in the canister storage area through operation of theloading machine.
 44. The method according to claim 43 wherein (e)includes reading data representative of the number of currency notes inthe canister storage area, and further comprising (g) comparing thenumber of currency notes counted in (f) to the number of currency notesrepresented in the data read in (e).
 45. The method according to claim44 and further comprising (h) responsive to any discrepancy in (g),updating through operation of the loading machine the canister memory torepresent the number of currency notes counted in (f) as the number ofcurrency notes in the canister storage area.
 46. The method according toclaim 43 wherein (f) is subsequent to the loading of additional currencynotes into the canister storage area, and further comprising (g)changing through operation of the loading machine the data in thecanister memory to represent the number of currency notes counted in(f).
 47. The method according to claim 38 wherein prior to (b) furthercomprising (e) removing the canister from the automated banking machine.48. The method according to claim 47 and further comprising (f)transporting the canister removed in (e) to the loading machine.
 49. Themethod according to claim 47 wherein (c) includes loading additionalcurrency notes into the canister storage area at a location remote fromthe automated banking machine.
 50. The method according to claim 49wherein subsequent to (d) further comprising (f) installing the canisterinto an automated banking machine located remotely from the loadingmachine.
 51. The method according to claim 42 wherein the canistermemory includes a programmable memory, and further comprising (f)changing data in the programmable memory representative of at least oneof: the number of currency notes in the canister storage area, a type ofcurrency notes in the canister storage area, a denomination of currencynotes in the canister storage area, an orientation of currency notes inthe canister storage area, and whether currency notes in the canisterstorage area are new or used.
 52. The method according to claim 41wherein (e) includes modifying data representative of at least one of:an entity responsible for the loading, a date and time that the loadingwas performed, an entity verifying the loading, an entity responsiblefor transporting a loaded canister, and a route number indicative of aroute a loaded canister is to travel to an automated banking machine.53. Apparatus comprising: an automated canister loading machine, whereinthe loading machine includes a supply of currency notes, a canister,wherein the canister is adapted to hold currency notes therein, whereinthe canister adapted for use in an automated banking machine, whereinthe canister is adapted to be placed in operative connection with theloading machine, wherein the loading machine is operative to loadadditional currency notes into the canister from the supply while thecanister is remotely located from the automated banking machine, whereinthe loading machine is operative to adjust a quantity of currency notesin the canister, wherein the adjusting results in the canister includinga plurality of currency notes therein.
 54. The apparatus according toclaim 53 wherein the canister includes a storage area that is adapted tohold a plurality of currency notes therein.
 55. The apparatus accordingto claim 54 and further comprising an automated banking machine, whereinthe loading machine is remotely located from the automated bankingmachine, wherein the loading machine is operative to place additionalcurrency notes into the storage area.
 56. The apparatus according toclaim 55 wherein the loading machine is operative to fill the storagearea with currency notes.
 57. The apparatus according to claim 54wherein the canister includes a memory, wherein the memory is operativeto store data representative of information associated with thecanister, wherein the loading machine is operative to modify data storedin the memory.
 58. The apparatus according to claim 57 wherein theloading machine is operative to modify data representative of at leastone of: an entity responsible for loading the canister, a date and timeof loading the canister, an entity verifying loading of the canister, anentity responsible for transporting a loaded canister, and a routenumber indicative of a route a loaded canister is to travel to anautomated banking machine.
 59. The apparatus according to claim 57wherein the loading machine is operative to count a number of currencynotes in the storage area.
 60. The apparatus according to claim 59wherein the memory includes a programmable memory, wherein theprogrammable memory includes data representative of a number of currencynotes existing in the storage area, wherein the loading machine isoperative to modify the data representative of the number of currencynotes existing in the storage area to represent a number of countedcurrency notes.